14 things highly successful people never do in meetings

While the rules are more relaxed when it comes to online meetings, looking rumpled and messy won’t do you any good.  

Highly successful people are always put-together.  

Again, it’s a matter of respect. 

A professional outfit shows that you value the time of the other participants and that you’re willing to make an effort (even if you’re not physically in the room).

Speaking of respect, being late to a meeting is a big no-no.

Otherwise, you risk coming across as someone with poor time management and crappy manners.

Additionally, you’ll interrupt the flow of the proceedings and may miss out on important points.

Pro tip: whenever you add a meeting to your calendar, set a reminder for 15 or 20 minutes before.

Meetings aren’t an excuse to gossip with your co-workers, ask everyone how their pets are doing, or dissect the latest blockbuster movie taking the country by storm.

While a couple of minutes of banter as the meeting kicks off can relax the atmosphere, once you get into the thick of things, all conversations should be strictly on topic.

If you want to discuss something unrelated with your manager or a colleague, ask for a couple of minutes of their time after the meeting wraps up.

Speaking of wasting time, make sure you don’t waste yours, either.

Zoning out during a meeting can make you miss out on critical information being shared with the group. 

Also, it’s kind of rude.

This tip applies to online meetings in particular, given that it’s considerably easier to get distracted when you attend from home.

It’s tempting, especially if you always reach for your phone when your mind wanders.

However, mindlessly scrolling during a meeting is a clear sign that you’re disengaged.

The emails and social media updates will still be there when the meeting is over.

Instead, give your colleagues and managers your full, undivided attention, even when the topic at hand isn’t all that interesting.

If you work for a big company, there’s a good chance someone is already in charge of taking notes and sharing them with the group.

That said, taking your own notes during a meeting still comes with benefits:

• It helps you recall the topics shared with more ease
• You can jot down information others might have missed
• It keeps your hands occupied and your mind focused
• You have a clear list of key points and action items you need to address
• It makes others feel heard
• You can share them with co-workers who couldn’t be there

When it comes to meetings, highly successful people know that being an active participant is a must.

Asking questins and speaking up when the topic concerns you, however, should definitely be on your to-do list.

Group meetings aren’t your time to shine.

Even if you’re holding the meeting yourself or sharing a presentation, it’s important to let others chime in as well.

This shows that you are a team player and that you value others’ input.

These two traits will only help you become more successful in the long run.

On the same note, a professional meeting isn’t a good time to get into a colleague’s face or put them on the spot.

Getting confrontational in the middle of a meeting will disrupt the proceedings and may even cause the session to run long.

While workplace conflict is often unavoidable, there’s a time and place for everything.

If your goal is to emulate a highly successful person, it’s time to play the part.

As superficial as it may sound, appearances matter.

Slouching in your chair makes you look weak and disinterested. Good posture, in contrast, enables you to make a powerful impression. 

Similarly, avoid doing any of these:

• Yawning
• Biting your nails
• Chewing gum
• Keeping your arms crossed in a defensive stance
• Playing with your hair
• Rolling your eyes

As the meeting wraps up, take a moment to quickly go through everything that has been discussed.

This way, you keep others accountable, and you have a better chance of committing the talking points to memory.

Furthermore, it gives attendees the impression that the meeting was productive, even if that might not have 100% been the case.

It’s a win-win.

With the meeting in the rearview mirror, now what?

I’ll let you in on a little secret: highly successful people follow up.

If you were in charge of the meeting, send the attendees an email thanking them for their time and reinforcing key decisions.

If your team took on a new project, email to ensure that everyone knows what they have to do.