Business meetings may not always be the most exciting thing there is to do in the corporate world. However, they are inevitable and a necessary evil for the smooth operations of the industry.
Here are a few things you should never do in a meeting no matter how boring you may find it:
1. Using your phone
Avoid constantly checking your phone as this may seem rude and ill-mannered. If there is any urgent business you need to attend to, excuse yourself and then get back to the meeting. You can also set your phone to 'vibrate' and only check it when the important expected message comes through.
2. Eating
Unless the food has been offered for you and the rest of your colleagues, please don't eat in the boardroom. This is especially so for foods that have strong aromas. This will not only distract the meeting but also make you seem uninterested in whatever is being communicated.
3. Fixing your clothes
Please remember to adjust your outfit before you go into the meeting. Fixing them as you give your presentation is just a big no-no!
4. Sleeping
Now, we have all seen this one too many times. Try and get adequate sleep the day before that meeting. And if you didn't, because, well, life happens, find a way to distract yourself and keep awake. You may miss out on what is being said or even get on the wrong side of your boss. And we wouldn't that. Right?
5. Personal grooming
Please don't file your nails or comb your hair during the meeting, no matter how 'small' it may seem to you. Leave that for later.
6. Whispering
No matter how urgent you may feel that joke is, trust me, it can wait. Constantly murmuring may make you appear a joker in the workplace.
At the end of the day, you want to be respected by your colleagues. Next time you are tempted to do any of the above, just scribble on your notebook occasionally. Alternatively, you can excuse yourself to get a coffee or water then get back.