The Complete Guide to Meeting Etiquette At Work

Table of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. 8 Meeting Etiquette Rules to Implement in Your Organization
  3. Practice good AI note taker etiquette
  4. Automate company-wide meeting etiquette with Fellow’s integrated Meeting Guidelines
  5. Meeting etiquette FAQs

Summary

  • Punctuality and preparation are crucial; leaders should arrive on time, setting an example for employees, and attendees should come prepared with agendas and relevant documentation.
  • Effective meeting etiquette involves behaviors like active listening, maintaining appropriate body language, and respecting the meeting agenda, fostering a productive and respectful environment.
  • Establishing clear meeting guidelines through tools is essential for setting expectations, ensuring efficient meetings, and ultimately shaping a positive company culture.

8 Meeting Etiquette Rules to Implement in Your Organization

1. Be punctual

Being punctual is one of the most important business meeting etiquette rules. It shows professionalism, respect, and proper preparation. This is especially important for leadership because when leaders tolerate lateness, it means that people may begin to take advantage of that.

2. Come prepared

Set the expectation that meeting agendas are to be set far in advance, with time for the group to collaborate and make suggestions for items to add.

3. Ensure a quiet space for virtual meetings

Clear communication is essential in any meeting, but even more so in virtual meetings. Before joining the call, make sure your camera, microphone, and audio settings are all in order.

4. Follow the agenda

Do not stray from the meeting agenda. Staying on topic is good meeting etiquette because it respects the time and effort that has gone into organizing the meeting.

5. Be an active participant

Encourage employees to participate actively in meetings. A good rule of thumb is to listen at least twice as much as you speak.

6. Give others the opportunity to speak

No one enjoys a meeting where one or two people dominate the entire conversation. Give others the opportunity to speak and if you’ve just spoken, take some time to actively listen to others.

7. Ask clarifying questions

Asking clarifying questions shows that you are listening and that you want to properly understand what has been discussed.

8. Be attentive to your body language

It’s important to be self-aware of your own habits and body language during meetings. Avoid actions that may come off as rude or disrespectful.

Practice good AI note taker etiquette

Here are some etiquette tips for using an AI note taker:

  1. Ask for consent to bring your AI note taker bot to a meeting.
  2. Be able to answer any questions your fellow attendees have about the AI note taker.
  3. Do your research on your chosen app's security.
  4. Try to limit the number of bots that attend a meeting.
  5. Pause recording for sensitive or personal conversations.
  6. Share the recap with everyone after the call.
  7. Develop an AI policy at your organization.

Automate company-wide meeting etiquette with Fellow’s integrated Meeting Guidelines

The Meeting Guidelines feature in Fellow empowers company leaders to build healthy meeting habits at scale.

Meeting templates to foster good meeting etiquette

Meeting templates play a crucial role in fostering great meeting etiquette by providing a clear outline of the meeting agenda.

Lead teams with impactful meeting etiquette

As a leader, employees will look to you to understand your company culture when it comes to conduct at meetings. Follow these meeting etiquette tips to set expectations for your organization.

Meeting etiquette FAQs

What is meeting etiquette?

Meeting etiquette is a standard of behavior that is expected while you are in the office or in meetings. Good etiquette includes being on time, being off your phone for the entirety of the meeting, providing a detailed meeting agenda, staying attentive, and avoiding interruptions.

Why is meeting etiquette important for business leaders?

Meeting etiquette improves communication between you and your team, promotes higher productivity, and improves relationships within the working group.

How can a meeting policy help with meeting etiquette?

Meeting policies are practices your organization sets out for how meetings will be conducted, including guidelines on when meetings can be held, who should attend them, and how attendees prepare for meetings.