3 Rules of Successful Meetings

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.(TheStreet) -- You set up a meeting with a prospective customer or service provider. Location, time and all the details are confirmed. But when it's time for the meeting to begin you're still in your car, 30 minutes away, taking care of errands. You don't call, instant message or text the person you're supposed to be meeting.

What message have you just sent? That the person or the purpose of the meeting is not a priority? That you're not serious about doing business?

You're late, you're unfocused and you take without giving. It's no way to represent a business, especially your own.

If you are a new business looking for customers or vendors, you've a made a major mistake, ruining your credibility and the business. There will be occasions when being late is inevitable, such as when you hit unexpected traffic due to an accident. But when you're late simply because of poor planning and time management and you do not make the effort to communicate with the other party, digging yourself out of this credibility deficit is going to take some serious work. With some clients, it may be impossible.

Being late by a few minutes happens. Being really late with no courtesy call and without a genuine concern puts you out of the running for doing business with many organizations. It's even worse when you commit this faux pas at your first meeting. (Or when you were supposed to be at your first meeting. Here are some tips to important clients meeting etiquette:

Be on time!
If you will be unavoidably delayed due to traffic or other unforeseeable event, call the person you are meeting. If you will be late by more than 20 minutes, ask the person if they have the time to start the meeting late. If you are meeting the person for a meal or coffee, request that they go ahead and order.

Focus.
Unless you are expecting a phone call or message about a true emergency (for example, a loved one is ill) put your phone on silent. Do not look at the phone for messages, text, instant messages or emails. Focus your attention on the person or people you are with. Value their time and give them the respect of your full attention.