Courtesy Quote by Fleur Anderson
![“[Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard] would not schedule any Cabinet meetings in the evening because he'd previously observed as a minister that any meeting after dinner and a couple of glasses of wine was an 'inefficient use of time'. ... Predictable? Most of the time, yes. But in…” quote by Fleur Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f96/fleur-anderson-105555_courtesy_former-australian-prime-minister-john-ho_1713315.jpg)
““[Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard] would not schedule any Cabinet meetings in the evening because he'd previously observed as a minister that any meeting after dinner and a couple of glasses of wine was an 'inefficient use of time'. ... Predictable? Most of the time, yes. But in Howard's view, a regular timetable was also a courtesy, as much for other people's benefit as his own. For his security detail, younger men and women who often had children. For his staff, who regularly had to be reminded to take a lunchbreak. And also for his ministers, obliged to attend endless public functions.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Fleur Anderson on John Howard, 2020
Howard scheduled meetings only in daytime to maximize efficiency and respect others’ personal time, treating a regular timetable as a courtesy for staff and family.
In simple terms: He kept meetings in the day to be efficient and considerate of others’ time.
Key Takeaway
Plan meetings during regular work hours.
Themes
efficiency
courtesy
work‑life balance
leadership
Mood
professional
considerate
Type
advice
observational
When to use this quote
- government scheduling
- staff wellbeing
- family time
- public events
Key Concepts
time management
organizational behavior
public service
Questions to Reflect On
- How does a fixed schedule affect productivity?
- What are the trade‑offs of limiting evening work?
A Different Perspective
May limit flexibility for urgent issues that arise after hours.
![“[John Howard] led the Government. They had the numbers, and just basically automatically went along with the Americans.” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ee1/bob-hawke-7891_government_john-howard-led-the-government-they-had_3133066.jpg)
