It starts with the deafening silence received when an invitation goes out. Only about half will initially accept or decline – regardless of their intentions.
Then there's the "no-shows" or "flakes" - those who reply that they'd love to come but somehow end up "missing in action" on the day.
It's not just those who refuse to respond or fail to front who raise our eyebrows and take rudeness to new levels.
There is also the friend who politely responds with an RSVP for one before rudely bringing along his brother, brother's partner and brother's partner's sister to completely derail your careful planning.
And let's not forget the serial canceller – the person who is always first to RSVP but develops a reputation for regularly reversing their "yes" for a "no" only hours or even minutes before an event.
Worse still are the "surprise guests" who are invited and fail to RSVP but turn up anyway.
Some believe that our failure to RSVP might be because many invitations now arrive via email or social media and somehow feel "less real".
Others argue that it appears to have become quite acceptable to ignore an invitation if we think a better offer might turn up. We delay our RSVP and then completely forget to follow up with a "yay" or "nay".
There is also a train of thought that suggests some of us have failed to learn the art of saying "no".
People will always have legitimate reasons for failing to RSVP or being a no-show.
But those who have become increasingly blase about responding to an invitation in a timely manner should be warned – it will end up reflecting on you personally and professionally.
So, arm yourself with a reinvigorated RSVP respect and respond to an invitation at the first available opportunity.
If you commit to going, make sure you go. And if you say you won't be attending, simply don't.
- Professor Gary Martin is a workplace expert with the Australian Institute of Management
