Mind your meetings

Matt Mullenweg had once jokingly questioned, "Has anyone ever said, I wish I could go to more meetings today?" Most definitely never, unless the meetings are conducted by the World's Best Boss, Michael Scott, from The Office.

Meetings almost always take a stress-toll on the rest of our work day. In a meeting where co-workers and higher-ups from different departments may be present, it's imperative that you be aware of how you are expected to carry and conduct yourself, as these involve interactions that leave lasting impressions.

Here are four tips on meeting manners to help you make the best impression on your peers and bosses.

Punctuality matters:

Being fashionably late to the senior prom or a birthday party may seem okay if you wish to make a statement, but a business meeting is probably not the ideal place to try a late entrance in.

About that mobile phone:

There's nothing as awkward as your phone suddenly blaring out the Pokemon title track while your boss is in the middle of a presentation. So put it on meeting mode and inside your pocket. If it's absolutely necessary to attend to a call or text, then go outside. If the phone is needed for other purposes like taking notes, you may take permission from the boss to see if that's okay. It's still advisable to use pen and paper for jotting down meeting minutes because looking like you're busy on your phone in the middle of a meeting comes off as very rude.

Introduce yourself and those around you:

Even if just one person present in the meeting room doesn't know you, you need to introduce yourself. If the responsibility of introducing others falls on you, start with the person of the highest rank.

Keeping a written agenda helps:

Having a list or summary of what the meeting has asked from you, or what it's going to be about, helps save time, resource and energy. Bullet pointed notes can be made, besides keeping copies of required files for everyone who will attend.

Eshanee is a junior at IBA, DU. Send her some good vibes at eshanee333@gmail.com.