Final answer:
Professional procedure dictates that communication is key when one party is missing from an appointment after waiting for 5 minutes. The present party should be informed of the situation and options should be provided, with outreach attempts made to the absent individual to gauge further action.
Step-by-step explanation:
When facing a scenario where an appointment is set up for two individuals but only one of them is present after a five-minute wait, the professional procedure is to check in with the person who has arrived to inform them of the situation. It's important to communicate that you are awaiting the other individual's arrival and to ask whether they'd like to wait a bit longer or prefer to reschedule for a time when both parties can be present.
Moreover, reaching out to the individual who is absent via a phone call or text message to ascertain their estimated time of arrival or to confirm the appointment could help facilitate the next steps. If the initial attempts to contact the missing party are unsuccessful, it may be necessary to make a judgment call based on the type of appointment, the preferences of the attendee who is present, and the standard practices of the establishment.
If the appointment was booked for a service that requires the presence of both individuals (like a joint consultation), and they are not able to arrive shortly, rescheduling might be the best course of action. However, if the person present is comfortable proceeding without the other, and if it does not disrupt the purpose of the appointment, you might opt to continue with just the one attendee. It is essential to maintain a professional attitude and to clearly communicate any updates or changes to the appointment to both parties as necessary.