Meeting Etiquette tips

William Hanson is one of the UK’s leading protocol and etiquette consultants and, at 21 years old, is one of the youngest. He has worked with worldwide brands and international companies including easyGroup, Fox's Biscuits and Elizabeth Shaw Chocolatiers. William provides first-class training and advice and works as a tutor for top etiquette consultants, The English Manner. He can be regularly seen as a guest, contributor or presenter in a range of media from Tattler to Big Brother and The One Show.

William Hanson’s Top 10 Business Meeting Dos and Don’ts

1. Ringing phones: In meetings, turn these to silent/vibrate. If your phone does ring in a meeting, switch it off immediately. Never answer it at the table. If it is an urgent call, excuse yourself discreetly and leave the room.
    
2. Punctuality: If a meeting is scheduled to start at 11am, get there at least 10 minutes before. Unlike social situations where its polite to be 10 minutes late, in business timekeeping is essential.
    
3. Text/email checking: In business, relationships are everything – checking your phone signals that you are not interested in the people you are with and you risk losing credibility and respect.
    
4. Laptop lock down: Having your laptop open in a meeting is a blatant sign of “I’m not going to listen to you in this meeting” – unless you are using the computer for reference in the meeting. Do not have it open.
    
5. Gum: The chewing of gum in meetings and while with clients is increasingly becoming a habit. But my recommendation is simply not to do it.
    
6. Foreign trips: When doing business abroad, make sure you do your research into the customs of your host country. Don’t presume it’ll be Britain-abroad. For example, did you know you can cause major offence in the Middle East if you sit showing the soles of your feet/shoes?
    
7. Attention deficit: However bored you may be in any meeting, ensure you pay the person who is speaking the correct level of attention.
    
8. Greetings: If you don’t know someone, when you first meet them, a handshake is the only way to greet them. Don’t hug or kiss someone you have never met before.
    
9. A good firm handshake: Practice on friends and family members to see if it’s too weak or too strong, as this introduction can set the right tone for your meeting. Also, make sure you only shake with one hand. Leave your left hand by your side – don’t put it on their arm or over their other hand.
    
10. Saying thank you: It is a skill that is fast fading away but writing a quick letter or email following a meeting can pay huge dividends