When did it become acceptable not to show up?
Before the pandemic, the only reasons people would miss an event they’d committed to were illness or a crisis. Now, it seems “something came up” has become the default. But behind every event, whether it’s a client dinner, a networking reception or even an internal team gathering, is someone’s time, effort, and investment. Venues are booked, food and drink are ordered, and the purpose is to bring people together.
What’s changed?
Post-COVID habits – Did lockdown make us more comfortable with cancelling at the last minute?
Always-on culture – Do we now value a Teams call more than a face-to-face conversation?
Diary management – Are we overcommitting ourselves without thinking it through?
Whatever the reason, it’s worth pausing to consider the impact. Not showing up doesn’t just waste resources; it sends a message about how much we value other people’s time.
Why it matters
I plan and organise events both for Bowman Riley and in my role as Chair of Fbe Leeds, I put a lot of energy into building genuine relationships with colleagues, clients, and collaborators. That relies on respect and trust, and a big part of that is simply showing up when you’ve said you will. It’s about courtesy, professionalism, and keeping a human connection at the heart of business.
So perhaps it’s time to ask ourselves: are we respecting the effort behind the invitation? And how can we reset expectations around showing up in person?
I’d love to hear your thoughts – have you noticed this shift too? And how do we encourage a culture where our word (and our RSVP) still means something?