8 habits to avoid in any work meeting if you want to make a good impression

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Many people have mixed opinions on business meetings. But they are still public within a company, and your conduct in them matters.

They're scheduled ahead of time for a reason that means you should be respectful and show up on time. You should also have a sense of what you will be discussing, and be prepared to focus on just that during the meeting.

It's fine to sip on some coffee or eat any provided food, but make sure you're not drawing focus. And if someone makes a point you think is laughable, that doesn't mean you should laugh out loud.

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Ah, the business meeting. Sometimes, these professional gatherings prove essential, giving bosses and employees the opportunity to share information and explore options for tackling upcoming projects. Other times, meetings can feel a bit superfluous, especially in this age of email correspondence and office-wide instant messaging.

But regardless of the meeting's perceived necessity, it's important to remember the public nature of these get-togethers and to present yourself as professionally as possible. To achieve that goal, you'll want to avoid these eight dangerously easy-to-make mistakes during staff meetings.1. Arriving or calling in late

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Even if your office culture involves a generally lax attitude about arrival times, if you have a meeting scheduled first thing in the morning, arriving on time should be a top priority for you. Scheduled meetings require time-related respect from everyone involved; that's why they're clearly put on the calendar ahead of time. So set an extra alarm, load up on your a.m. coffee, and get yourself into that conference room at the designated time or, preferably, a couple of minutes before .

2. Failing to review the agenda prior to the meeting

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In many workplaces, admins distribute agendas prior to important meetings, allowing the attendees to gain a sense of what they'll be discussing. If your office meetings fall into this category, take some time before the meeting begins to look over the agenda and to jot down any questions or comments you may have about the specified points. You'll be doing yourself a favor, and you'll be helping your boss and your coworkers by attending the meeting as a fully informed and engaged participant.

3. Multitasking during the meeting

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If your office norms include bringing laptops into meetings, then you probably won't be the only one tempted to check and answer emails during a session especially if said meeting starts running long . While an occasional speedy email response won't be a dealbreaker in most meeting environments, diverting your attention to work on another project during a meeting may present you as unable to focus.

See the rest of the story at Business InsiderSee Also:7 signs that you're at risk of losing your job3 bosses share why they decided not to promote someone70 of the US population experiences imposter syndrome. Researchers just discovered a simple way to combat it.SEE ALSO: 7 super simple ways to make your meetings quicker and more productive

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