7 Things That Every Professional Must Avoid Doing in Business Meetings

7-things-that-every-professional-must-avoid-doing-in-business-meetings
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Even in our digital age that enables us to communicate in a myriad of ways, face-to-face business meetings are often the most effective and decisive elements in moving business forward.

However, as everyone’s interactions become increasingly casual maybe mostly due to the rise of social media, there is a real danger that some of those habits might spill over into business meetings. What is the proper etiquette nowadays?

We have compiled a list of 7 things every professional must avoid doing in business meetings:

1. Discussing Private Topics

Many people rush to get on friendly terms with their clients or business partners, but business meetings should be approached with caution. Avoid being led into discussing topics about religion, politics, or even money, as they are minefields of awkward and potentially damaging conversations.

In addition, keep in mind that many of these personal matters can come off as offensive to people from different backgrounds, so it is best to avoid them entirely until you know who are talkint to.

2. Using the Word “I” Too Often

During a business discussion, people often make the mistake of getting caught up in what they want or expect, but this often leaves one with a selfish or aggressive impression.

To avoid an “I”-centric conversation, it is better to use collective pronouns such as “we” and “our”. This shows that you recognize the efforts of those around you in attaining a goal, and it highlights your sincere interest in others as opposed to only your own.

3. Winging it

Sometimes, people are comfortable simply winging a business meeting, trusting that their people skills and expertise will carry them through. However, this is often perceived as unprofessional behavior, especially for people who value thoroughness and sincerity.

Whether you are holding or attending a meeting, it is important to be prepared and well-informed on the meeting purpose. Reading up on previous material or even bringing references will allow you to control the conversation.

4. Not Communicating Before the Meeting

Some professionals focus their entire energy and focus on the meeting itself, but by doing so, they are overlooking the many benefits that come from thorough communication beforehand.

Establishing an open communication line with the partner or client can help set a clear agenda for the meeting, and can even help devise discussion topics that make it more effective. These discussions can also buy you time to discuss only the necessary and essential things during the meeting.

5. Aggressively Handling Conflicts

Conflicting interests can make it hard to reach a decision during a meeting. This is why efficient conflict management skills are important.

Expressing your expectations clearly but with a non-confrontational tone will help resolve issues sooner and imply that everyone is expected to handle the discussion in a uniform and respectful manner.

6. Being a Demotivated Audience

Having a meeting with confrontational individuals can be a headache, but having meetings with demotivated people is worse. When someone is demotivated, it shows everyone that they simply do not care, leading to group indecision or worse, carelessness.

A motivated mind can generate much more beneficial discussion and feedback, which is why it’s important to show everyone the respect of your full attention.

7. Not Summarizing the Takeaways at the End

During a meeting, people can get sidetracked, focus on different things, mishear or misremember – there is no telling what everyone comes away with.

Therefore, it is important to summarize all the important points at the end and get everyone on the same page. This also helps break large topics down to smaller bits so that everyone remembers what was agreed upon and no one has to make unnecessary follow-ups.