When Postponing Makes Sense

We all do this, but sometimes it is just not a good idea. You are sick with a horrible head cold and feel miserable. Or you had a death in the family and your spirits are in the gutter. But you are scheduled to give a major presentation, so you go to work and push through.

The key question is, can you do your best? Can you have the same impact as you would have if you were 100 percent okay? If you are presenting to people who have known you for years, they may understand your being at less than peak performance. But if this is the first time some of the folks in the room will be hearing you and you are “at half-mast,” you are hurting yourself and likely the organization for which you work as well. It’s the same concept for a telephone call. If you are not ready for that call, don’t answer the phone. I know a lot of people will say that you should push through. I will tell you that if the presentation is not great, and if the effort would have been a lot better a day or two later and can possibly be postponed, then try to postpone it. And, if someone else can do as good as a job as you can, let’s say in a client meeting, let them handle it. Leaving a less-than-stellar impression is what will stick. People will not remember you were sick or had just lost a family member. Sad, but true.

Having said this, I haven’t missed more than ten days of work in thirty years. But if I were really off, I wouldn’t go in.