Top 4 Meeting Pet Peeves… and How to Avoid Them

By Rachel Wagner

Meetings can be a way to focus on business issues, gather input, and jointly solve problems. And, manners matter at meetings. It makes you look good and shows respect to others.

But, according to a recent report in USA Today,* attendees ranked these four meeting etiquette pet peeves (bolded below) the most annoying. My solutions to avoid these faux pas are included.

1. Not keeping to the schedule. It’s much easier to run a productive meeting if everyone has an agenda, preferably emailed to all attendees before the meeting.  It should list all topics or reports that will be covered and by whom. This allows everyone to come prepared. The meeting facilitator is responsible for sticking to the agenda and deflecting rabbit trails and tangents.
   
   
2. Meetings seem unnecessary. Everyone's busy.  And meetings can be an expensive waste of people’s time that leave attendees frustrated and poorly informed.
   
   
   • Determine the meeting’s objective, and whether it can be accomplished via an email or conference call instead of holding a meeting.
     
     
   • Just because you always have a meeting every Tuesday morning at 9:00, analyze if it’s necessary and cancel if there's no real reason to meet that week. Don't just waltz in and ask, "Well, does anyone have anything today?" like my daughter's boss did one day to his preassembled departmental team. Grrr...!
     
     
3. Attendees using PDAs/laptops for personal reasons. Smart phones, iPads, and laptops can be great devices for taking meeting notes.  But, everyone knows if someone’s head is down, focused instead on texting, Facebook, or sports scores.  So, when the meeting starts: ask people to “TTO” – Turn Technology Off – to whatever extent possible, and focus.  
   
   
4. People interrupting each other.  Everyone should get equal air time. But, show courtesy to others by letting them finish before you speak.  

By minding your meeting manners, everyone wins!

*Source: Accountemps survey of 1,000 senior managers, reported by USA Today, September 7, 2011  

Rachel Wagner is a certified corporate etiquette and international protocol consultant and founder of the business etiquette firm, Rachel Wagner Etiquette and Protocol. She trains leadership teams on the topics of business and dining etiquette to polish their professional presence and the image of their company. Rachel is active with the American Society for Training and Development and the National Speaker’s Association. She is author of a popular e-zine, The Savvy Professional, and is frequently quoted in the media. She can be reached by phone at 918.970.4400 or by email at Rachel@EtiquetteTrainer.com. Website: www.EtiquetteTrainer.com.