In business, there are two kinds of people—those who hate meetings and those who love them. It doesn’t really matter which you are, though, because no one wants to be the butt of the meeting joke. That’s why it’s so important to know how to hold effective meetings and avoid any embarrassing mistakes along the way. To help with that, here are five of the biggest meeting blunders, along with tips on how to avoid each one.
1) Arriving late
One of the biggest meeting blunders is arriving late. Not only does it show a lack of respect for the other attendees, but it can also throw off the entire meeting. If you know you’re going to be running late, call ahead and let the organizer know. And if you’re unexpectedly delayed, do your best to get there as soon as possible.
2) Being unprepared
One of the worst things you can do in a meeting is show up unprepared. This sends the message that you don’t care about the meeting or the issue at hand. To avoid this, take some time to review the meeting’s purpose and materials beforehand. This will help you be more engaged and focused when the meeting starts. Use the time before the meeting to jot down any thoughts or questions you have. Forcing others to answer questions: If there are people in your meeting who know more than you do, make sure they have an opportunity to answer questions too. Don’t let them know if they’re right or wrong – just listen! Interrupting others: The person talking needs uninterrupted time for their thoughts to come out clearly. When someone interrupts, it often leads to incomplete ideas and confusion on both sides of the conversation.
3) Getting distracted by personal phone calls
We’ve all been there: you’re in the middle of a meeting when your phone starts buzzing. You see that it’s a personal call, but you answer it anyway. Big mistake. Not only are you being rude to the person leading the meeting, but you’re also not paying attention to what’s being said. If you must take a call, step out of the room and come back when you’re finished.
4) Failing to listen
We’ve all been there: somebody else is talking, but we’re not really listening. Maybe we’re thinking about what we’re going to say next, or maybe we’re just zoning out. Either way, it’s not good. Not only are you missing out on what the other person is saying, but you’re also giving off the impression that you don’t care. The next time you’re in a meeting, make a conscious effort to really listen to what’s being said.
5) Having no agenda
If you’re hosting a meeting, it’s your responsibility to come prepared with an agenda. This will ensure that everyone knows what the purpose of the meeting is and that there is a plan for how to achieve that purpose. Without an agenda, meetings can quickly become a waste of time.
