How you conduct yourself in meetings is a reflection of you. Some entrepreneurs have been in the business world for quite some time now but for many of you out there that haven’t really had a lot of meeting experience, we’re going to share with you a bit of tips you can use when either attending or holding meetings yourself. Today with us we have regular Dr. Joyce Knudsen. Forgotten Rules of Meetings There are a lot of forgotten rules when it comes to meetings. One of the biggest pet peeves for David is being on time. He actually suggests people get there earlier to get settled, but other than that have a timely meeting out of respect for time. Dr. Joyce suggests being there ten minutes early because you never know what sort of unforeseen situations may arise. An image is an impression you make upon others, so if you’re late you are making the image that you are not to be trusted to be on time. Making Introductions You need to know how to make introductions. A lot of people do not know how to make ap roper introduction. A few tips are to name the person of greater rank or authority first -- this is very important and if you don’t do these things it shows that you aren’t polished. Making use of first and last names when introducing people to each other, in addition to any titles like Dr. or Sir. While this may not be of much importance to you, other people do notice it. You should also keep in mind to include any relevant details such as any established relationships or occupations. Business Cards Handing others your business card may be a very casual thing in Western countries, but for many countries in Asian, handing your business card to someone else with both hands is very important and a sign of respect. Dr. Joyce also adds that handing it to them in such a way that they can read it is also equally as important. A bad example would be handing it to them upside down. Handshakes are Important In a lot of cultures much meaning it transferred by the way you offer your hand. You have to know the correct times to do it and on top of that, people actually end up shaking hands the wrong way. Handshakes also shouldn’t last too long -- around three seconds is enough. Cell Phones You should never act as if the time you’re spending with someone else is less important that your cell phone -- especially in today’s society. Agendas and objectives Creating an outline in order to remain on a schedule for a meeting is something you should do as well. You want to have a checklist to make sure all of the information is covered and you want to let participants know what’s being covered in the meeting -- the objective needs to be clearly stated. Even something so simple as posture, sitting, and getting back up are very important when it comes to meeting conduct and creating a great impression. Learn more about Dr. Joyce: http://drjoyceknudsen.com/