Meetings Never Start on Time

Dear Pragmatist,

I work in a place where the meetings never start on time. I look around at the number of people wasting their time and I get irritated.

You are not alone; however, getting irritated isn’t the answer. This happens everywhere, although there are some work place cultures where meeting starts are worse than others. I have even had occasion to work for senior executives who came in late as a way to demonstrate their importance (pretty old school, huh).

I always bring something from my ever-growing “to read” stack; that way I use the waiting time productively.

The real leadership lesson here is to not get angry. It will sour you and the people around you.

Patience and productivity will serve you better than grumbling.