I want to share a dark secret of meetings.
It goes against everything you’ve heard and with one caveat, every single person I know has confirmed this secret to be 100%, absolutely true.
It’s wonderful — WONDERFUL — if you cancel a meeting.
Let me make it clear: if we have a meeting scheduled you and you cancel or reschedule it with an hour or two (or more) notice, I am ecstatic.
You can always get back on my schedule. You can always book another time for us to talk. You never need a reason or excuse.
You just need four words.
“I need to reschedule.“
Send those four words and I’ll be ecstatic! Never happier!
Maybe it has been a terrible day and I’d have an empty afternoon to rest in — except for one meeting right in the middle of the afternoon.
Maybe I don’t want to be in the office. Maybe I want to bug out of there and have a drink or see a movie or go on a hike.
Maybe it’s a crazy day and I am searching for an extra thirty minutes to squeeze in something that I have, have, have to get done today, no questions asked.
If you cancel a meeting with me with a little notice — please do be considerate and professional and give some notice — I will be ecstatic. I will never be offended if you cancel a meeting.
It’s fine. We’ll book another time.
Excelsior!
Kai