Meeting Etiquette - Codes of Conduct while attending Meetings

Etiquette refers to good manners required by an individual to find a place in the society. It is important for an individual to behave appropriately in public to earn respect and appreciation. One must learn to maintain the decorum of the work place. It is important to respect one’s organization to expect the same in return. No one would ever take you seriously if do not behave well at the workplace. Meetings are an important part of corporate where employees sit together on a common platform, exchange their views and opinions and reach to a solution benefiting the organization and mutually acceptable to all.

Let us go through some meeting etiquette in detail:

• Do not attend phone calls during meetings unless it is an emergency. It is bad manners to do the same.
  
• Try to find out what the meeting is all about. Understand the importance of the meeting. Never go blank. Employees should do all the ground work before attending meetings to ensure maximum participation from their end. Prepare notes in advance.
• Never attend meetings without a notepad and pen. It is practically not possible for an individual to remember each and every thing discussed at the time of meeting. A notepad helps in jotting down the important points for future reference.
• Always keep your cell phone on the silent or vibrator mode. Cell phones ringing in the middle of meetings and seminars are considered rude and unprofessional. This might insult others sitting in the same room as well as break the pace of the meeting.
  
• Superiors must create an agenda before every meeting. The agenda must be circulated among all employees for them to prepare in advance. Meetings should not be conducted just for the sake of it. It is important to have well defined plans. Make a list of issues to be discussed at the time of meeting. Make sure you do not deviate from the key points. Keep the meetings short.
• Never be late for meetings. Going late for a meeting is something which is not expected out of a professional.