Hating on the calendar apps.

12 Comments

1. MichelleFebruary 13,2022 at 12:45PM UTC

   I would reply by asking if their calendar up to date as I was trying to schedule the appointment but the next available is three weeks out.

   It puts the onus back on them.

2. AnonymousFebruary 13,2022 at 1:30PM UTC

   Of course followup and let them know the status and ask if there is someone else with availability you can speak with.

3. Shenelle S. LaPierreFebruary 13,2022 at 3:55PM UTC

   I would rephrase, “As per our discussion, I’m unable to book a timely appointment. Can you please check to see if your calendar is up to date?” This way it doesn’t come off as rude and she has to come back to you with an update.

4. KVDFebruary 14,2022 at 2:32PM UTC

   Just be upfront that you are not seeing any time that lines up. I work in an organization where it is the norm to create timeblocks to work on projects - I’ll usually just say something like “hey - I don’t see any time that works for both of us. I’m can be available x, x, x. Do any of those times work for you?” If you are working across time zones, don’t forget to include yours.

5. Krystin MorganFebruary 14,2022 at 7:31PM UTC

   I think that's totally fine - just let them know!

6. Chrissy C.February 16,2022 at 6:11AM UTC

   I don’t think it’s rude at all! Book a slot so you have something but reach out and ask if they have any earlier openings because you’d like to meet sooner. It couldn’t hurt and shows you’re interested!

7. AnonymousFebruary 17,2022 at 1:32PM UTC

   I am an experienced team

   member who is frequently requested for meetings by execs and peers across departments. Before Covid my calendar was booked a full 8 hours per day and I often took meetings after hours. I barely had time to eat, get a glass of water—-even get up to go to the bathroom. Now it’s even more crazy.

   Microsoft Office has a feature where it books “focus time”’on my calendar and I use it to catch a beat. It comes via an email and I just click yes to the times. I don’t pay too close attention to how big the slots are, or on which days. I also put holds on lunch times and 1 hour recurring on Thursdays for admin tasks.

   I prefer when colleagues share the agenda and a brief note of the timeline. I can choose to share one of those slots. If the project is urgent/strategic/needs troubleshooting, I am happY use one of those slots.

   Ask your colleague but come

   prepared with the agenda and an indication of the level of priority so they can choose to offer you a slot for lunch, etc.

8. AnonymousFebruary 17,2022 at 1:45PM UTC

   Phrases like “as per” and “can you please” and “calendar up to date”, while accurate, are a bit loaded and should be used only in an escalation after the 3rd or 4th attempt. Asking if someone’s calendar is up to date can be interpreted as patronizing.

   While these words are accurate, I ask myself if using these types of words is likely to achieve my outcome. People are human, after all.

   Try this alternative: Send an email asking if there are any “holds” that you can make use of or “slots that they expect to open up.” The comment below ? notes that it is ideal to include the agenda and a statement of the urgency so the recipient can choose to prioritize time for your agenda.

9. AnonymousFebruary 17,2022 at 2:44PM UTC

   I would give the person the benefit of the doubt that they might not realize how packed their schedule really is - or that their available times do not match with yours. I always reach out in these instances to let the person know when the first available date is to see if they want to meet sooner. Sometimes they have project work booked on their calendar instead of meetings. I also make sure I buffer all meetings by scheduling them less than 1 hour (45 to 50 minutes, for example) so that people can stretch, use the restroom, eat, etc

10. Sara ColeFebruary 17,2022 at 7:01PM UTC

    I recently emailed a recruiter because the calendar app had no available appointments. I checked for two days and sent the recruiter a short note advising of the dilemma. Apparently there was a glitch with the application and she was able to book me manually. So, definitely reach out

11. AnonymousFebruary 17,2022 at 8:32PM UTC

    I would reach out over email and say "This is the first time available - I booked it to be sure that we had time, but it's three weeks away. if you'd like to meet sooner, let me know what works!"

    They might just have work time, or other things they can shorten/move around, if this is an urgent enough meeting.

12. Coach Nancie Kay ShumanFebruary 17,2022 at 8:49PM UTC

    Reach out to whom ever you are meeting with and let them know what is going on. As others have mentioned, it may be a glitch.

    In the past I have had issues of the more human variety. Another assistant in the company was trying to schedule an appointment at a time which I had blocked off for my boss. No explanation, simply, unavailable. The Assistant insisted that he needed to know what the appointment was. No, you don't need to know what is on my Bosses calendar, you simply need to reach out to me and ask me if it is something which can be shifted as that time is the best for a meeting with several department heads. The Bosses medical appointments are none of your business.