We're supposed to learn from our own mistakes that other people's errors can be instructive

too, from efforts to control the weather that went disastrously awry to the untimely death

of the Segway boss. History is a treasure trove, mishaps and meltdowns that can teach us

all. I'm Tim Halford, host of cautionary tales, the podcast that mines the greatest fiascoes

of the past for their most valuable lessons. Listen to cautionary tales on the iHeart Radio

app, our podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeart Radio. Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome

to the Before Breakfast Podcast. Today's tip is to plan for late comers. If you are leading

a meeting or other gathering, you can predict that some people will show up late. So think

in advance about how you can welcome them and smoothly incorporate them into the gathering

that's already underway. So I sing in the choir at my church, and from the loft, I have

a great view of the congregation. In particular, I can see that ushers tend to gently detain

late comers until certain moments when bringing them in will be less conspicuous, because

the entire congregation is standing or singing. Sometimes my husband and kids are among the

late comers, because let's face it, getting out the door in the morning is hard. Even if

the Sunday morning launch happens later than the weekday sort, it is not as carefully

timed. And if I am singing in the choir, I am not home to help. In general, people tend

to drive to church once a week or so, as opposed to school or work, which happens more frequently,

so people know the timing. Of course, people are going to be late to church. So the ushers

have a system for greeting them when they arrive and seating them in bursts. Late comers

are welcomed and know just how to plug into the service. Their arrival isn't a distraction

from what's already underway. Meeting facilitators can do something similar. Establish the norm

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