Lead time allows you to set a minimum notice period before someone can book a meeting with you. This ensures you have enough time to prepare and prevents last-minute bookings.
In simple terms, it’s the minimum time gap between when a meeting is booked and when it actually takes place.
Let’s take an example to understand how lead time can help manage your schedule effectively.
Imagine John has set a lead time of 1 hour. At 10:00 AM, he is attending a two-hour company-wide meeting. At 10:10 AM, one of his clients books a meeting for 11:10 AM. Since John is still in his company meeting at that time, he’s unable to attend the client meeting, even though a one-hour lead time was technically maintained.
This is why it’s a good idea to set a lead time that gives you enough buffer for preparation and awareness of upcoming meetings.
For instance, some people prefer a 12-hour lead time. This ensures that when they check their calendar in the morning, they know no meetings will be booked for the same day, giving them peace of mind and more control over their day.
On the other hand, if you're a therapist conducting online sessions and are usually available at your desk, you may prefer to set your lead time to zero. This means if someone sees an open slot at 3:00 PM, they can book it directly, even at the last minute.
Tip: Choose a lead time that best suits your workflow and the nature of your business. It helps ensure you're always prepared and never caught off guard.
Adding lead time
Click on Scheduling links, from the left-hand sidebar.
Click on the scheduling link for which you want to add a lead time.
Click on the Where tab.
Set the lead time.
Click on Save.