Meeting Etiquette

We Are Prepared

If we’re not early, we’re late.

  • We show up to meetings early so we can dial in and start up conference lines before our meeting starts.
  • We create an agenda for meetings we organize.
  • When we share our screen:
    • We close out of, or minimize, any windows and tabs that are not pertinent to the meeting.
    • We close out of any messaging applications (Slack, Mail, etc), and disable notifications or enable “Do Not Disturb” mode.
    • We perform any required A/V setup before the meeting starts (Connecting to projectors, turning on TV, setting up screen sharing permissions, etc).

We Are Productive

Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort. - Paul Meyer

  • We follow an agenda to keep the meeting on track.
  • We politely remind fellow attendees to remain on topic.
  • We politely ask for tangential conversations to happen off-line or in new meetings.
  • In large meetings, if only a few people are participating, we politely suggest excusing non-participants or scheduling a smaller meeting.

We Listen Earnestly

You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time. - M. Scott Peck

  • We do not bring distractions like laptops, phones, tablets, unless we are a presenter.
  • When we are no longer the presenter, we close our laptops.
  • We do not interrupt, or finish people’s sentences.
  • We ask clarifying questions to ensure understanding.

We Are Respectful

Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners. - Laurence Sterne

  • We keep an open mind, and maintain a positive attitude.
  • We speak in a helpful, friendly tone, even when we are frustrated.
  • We politely remind attendees when a meeting has reached the scheduled end time.
  • We respect the timezones of our remote clients or teammates whenever possible.
  • We remain cognizant of remote participants and proactively ask for their participation (while understanding that it may be difficult or impossible for them to hear conversations or see whiteboard sketches).