Meetings often engender a sense of dread, but they don’t have to. Employing the right etiquette can be the difference between meetings being a waste of time, and an essential part of the workday.
According to data gathered by Igloo Software, 76pc of individuals surveyed believe meetings are a waste of time. This is a pretty grim statistic, especially considering that more than a quarter of the working week is said to be devoted to either preparing for or having them.
What happened that things have gone so wrong? If anything, one would think that meetings would be more appreciated and important than ever, given that workplaces have become increasingly collaborative.
What better opportunity to collaborate than during a blocked-off period time in which most (or even all) employees in an organisation are gathered in one space?
Somewhere along the way, the core purpose of meetings has been lost. Instead of coming to meetings prepared and ready to collaborate, people are unengaged from the start.
Having internet tabs open, eating lunch during, and having separate conversations in the background all serve to prevent people from being able to get the most out of the time.
It can also be deeply discouraging for someone making a presentation, one which they presumably worked hard on, only for it to fall on deaf ears and be met with disinterest.
Luckily, the people are Wrike have put together this simple etiquette guide to help you get the most out of your meetings. Channelling best practice during your meetings will start a trend, and you’ll quickly see that all those new habits you developed will be reflected back to you.
Before you know it, the meeting will no longer be something to feel apprehensive about – far from it. You may even find that meetings soon become the highlight of your week, the zenith of creativity and collaboration in your place of work.
If this sounds like a change you’d love to see, check out the best tips for meeting etiquette in the infographic below.
Infographic: Wrike
