Before making assumptions, I would ask questions to get to the root cause of the lateness—if the entire team is consistently late, it may be a system issue rather than an individual problem. Are meetings scheduled back-to-back with no buffer? Do attendees find them valuable, or are they just another obligation? Is there a cultural norm that allows tardiness, or are competing priorities making it difficult to be on time? Understanding the “why” behind the behavior is key. Small adjustments—like optimizing scheduling, setting clear agendas, or even eliminating unnecessary meetings—can make a big difference. Punctuality isn’t just about showing up on time; it’s about ensuring meetings are effective and worth attending.

Before pinpointing to any particular individual, we have to identify the root cause. Hence we need a thorough analysis to find the root cause.

Tone comes from the top. If the leader is there early consistently and starts on time, the team will follow. No harsh words needed.

A true leader should always lead by example !! First and foremost, a leader must ensure he/she is consistently punctual for their tasks and meetings. If the team is consistently late to meetings, it should not be seen solely as an issue of teams tardiness. Here are some suggestions to help prevent delayed meetings : 1) Make sure meetings are scheduled well in advance with a clear agenda provided. 2) Use Root Cause Analysis methodology to assess whether the meetings are truly productive. 3) Conduct one-on-one discussions to gather feedback from team members on the effectiveness of the meetings. 4) Evaluate if the meetings are affecting the team's ability to meet (BAU) KPI performance expectations.

To address consistent tardiness, start by observing patterns and gathering feedback from team members. Conduct one-on-one discussions to understand any personal or logistical challenges they face. Assess factors such as unclear scheduling, meeting relevance, or time zone differences for remote teams. Review the meeting format and duration to ensure efficiency. Setting clear expectations and sending timely reminders can also help. By fostering open communication and making necessary adjustments, you can pinpoint the root causes and improve punctuality.

To get team disciplined first of all discipline them. Put rule rs.10 penalty tomato comer uptill 10 minutes and rs. 20 for late coming beyond 15 minutes. Absentia without information penalty of rs. 40 . The money to be collected in a piggy Bank and one person. Tobe taking responsibility. At the end of month use the collection for a srltanding party of tea and snacks with same money. In few days you will find the attendance is almost 90%plus. Most important is the meeting should not last more then 30 minutes and members are allowed to leave for meeting if they have some other priority. I have tried this and worked very well and this was applicable to me also as a ceo.

To address your team's meeting lateness, first gather data by tracking meeting tardiness, then hold individual conversations to understand the reasons behind it, and finally, communicate clear expectations and consequences.

Being late is simply unprofessional and secondly, it also means that the meeting is not that important or relevant to the people. Some say that its just a "habit" due to people that are involved are still engaged with other meetings, honestly after the pandemic and everyone got back to reporting in the office, the frequency of these so-called "meetings" do not produce the intended results rather causing more harm than good. Meeting-in person and addressing the opportunities are better than these online meeting schedules that don't answer real-time concerns.

To uncover the root cause, start with 1:1 conversations—approach them with curiosity about each person’s experiences and perspectives. Once you’ve gained insights, align expectations and ask if they need any support. As a follow-up, consider sending a team survey to encourage deeper reflection. This works best after individual discussions, as it helps team members process their thoughts and understand your intent before providing feedback.

As a leader if your team is not able to attend on time, first we have to examine ourselves as to was enough time given to team members to be able to attend and provide any insight they may be expected to do so. Are meetings really needed? Are they disruptive of teams workload.