SYNONYMS and ANTONYMS of PUNCTUALITY

                                                                                                

                                                     Synonyms                    Antonyms 

  Promptness                        Belated

  Timekeeping                       Behindhanded

  Regularity                                   Last-minute

   Reliability                           Tardy

English Grammar

Do you know when to use 

 'ON time'  and

 'IN time'  ?

On time = at the planned time; neither late nor early:

example: Peter wants the meeting to start exactly on time.

In time = with enough time to spare; before the last moment:

example: He would have died if they hadn’t got him to the hospital in time

Taken from Michael Swan’s 'Practical English Usage'

QUOTING THE FAMOUS

Marilyn Monroe

SUCCESS & PUNCTUALITY

“I have always been a quarter of an hour before my time, and it has made a man of me."

 - Lord Nelson

 

"I have been on a calendar, but never on time."

- Marilyn Monroe

   

George Bernard Shaw

     WHO’S WISER?

     "Better never, than late."

     - George Bernard Shaw

      "If you're there before it's over,
       you're on time."

     - James J. Walker

Do Deadlines Drive Punctuality?

I usually pride myself for being punctual, so today, I thought I’d analyse the situation a little more in depth. I took a moment to think about the actual reason why I’m punctual at work or college. Is it entirely because of the culture I belong to? Or, is it my upbringing?

While that does contribute to a certain extent, I believe that a DEADLINE is the actual reason that governs my punctuality trait.

No deadline     ----->        No Stress     ----->          No Output

What drives your punctuality at work/college? Do you rely on deadlines too? Do you wait till the last day to study for a test or work on an assignment only when the due date is near? OR, do you do your homework daily?

Punctuality traits around the world

I tried looking at the different punctuality traits* among people coming from different parts of the world. The general perception (among a few that caught my interest) seems to be as given below

PUNCTUAL	UNPUNCTUAL
Japanese	Indians
Chinese	Italians
Chileans	Moroccans
Dutch	Indonesians

I feel the above traits are very well summarised in the below website. All you need to do is click on the country your interested in and it pops up the time and the business punctuality traits of the people of that nation. J

Punctuality around the world

I found that interesting.... What about you?

Punctuality comments on the Web that caught my eye.

‘Punctuality could be considered the Achille's heel of many Italians and the further south you go the less importance is placed on being on time.’

It is inadvisable to expect punctuality in India. Therefore, it is advisable not to schedule too many appointments in one day. Always be prepared for lengthy delays when dealing with the government.

...being on time every time, is the first step towards building trust and reliability in Japan. This is true both in business as well as personal relationships.

Chinese think punctuality is a virtue and try to practice it especially in the business world. Chinese usually tend to come a bit earlier to show their earnestness. And it would not be regarded as being late if you come within 10 minutes.

I created the Punctuality table with references from below sites. They include the quote extracts too.

http://www.everyculture.com/

http://www.everyculture.com/Bo-Co/Chile.html

http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa031901b.htm

http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/feb/21japan.htm

http://www.asiatravelinfo.com/india/doingbusiness.asp

http://www.insideitaly.it/italian/Punctuality.php

*Disclaimer: I accept there are exceptions and not everybody can be type casted with the traits of his/her fellow citizens!

7 Benefits of Punctuality

Punctuality is a wonderful trait of a person, one to be admired and respected. 2 years back when attending a workshop on business ethics, the instructor explained the meaning of punctuality and I would like to share his words of wisdom with you today. Punctuality displays a person’s respect for people and time. In a scheduled appointment, the late-comer usually gives an impression that he/she doesn’t value the other person’s time or considers his/her time more important than that of the other. This is exactly why candidates are never late at a job interview!

Punctuality is more important at the workplace because it is here that you get paid for the hours you put in. While it may be appropriate for you to be fashionably late for a social event, it won’t be appreciated by the business where time is considered to be money in today's growing economy. Many people work from home these days, to them punctuality means being available online during office hours, logging in into meetings punctually, and meeting project deadlines.

While many companies do appreciate punctuality, others offer a more flexible environment for employees. Here employees are assessed on their professional front like accomplishments and out of the box solutions, while punctuality takes a backseat. However, at the end of the day, punctuality does make a difference and if you want to earn and maintain the respect you wish to have at the workplace you cannot wayside this wonderful human virtue. Below are some reasons why you should be punctual:

1.   Respect: Punctuality speaks of a person’s respect of others. In giving respect to others we can earn in turn.

2.   Credibility: An employee who is punctual is considered as credible in the eyes of his/her employer.

3.   Organised: A punctual person usually organises his/her work well, thinks ahead of time, prioritizes the given tasks and is overall successful.

4.   Networking: Much of the networking in a company happens just before a meeting when the board members are waiting for everybody to gather. Being early can give you a chance to talk to the company leaders and create a network of alliances for you.

5.   Ready: Being a couple of minutes early to a meeting or work, gives you time to relax, collect your thoughts and prioritise your day’s activities. This will help you sail through the day with no major glitches.

6.   Productivity: An employee who isn’t stressed about reaching late or has come in early enough to give him minutes to settle in before the day’s work begins, has got better chances to get more accomplished than a late comer who feels more pressurized.

7.   Promotion: All of the above points help an employee become a strong contender for a promotion (of course, given the fact that he/she is good at the job).