What women should never do in a meeting

What women should never do in a meeting

Photo by Christina Morillo from Pexels

If you’re a woman in the workplace, it can be tough to get used to the unwritten rules of business interactions. For example, men tend to make direct eye contact when they speak, while women look away more often – especially if they’re junior employees and want to appear less threatening to their bosses or senior colleagues. Here are some things that women should never do in meetings at work if they want to succeed and advance their careers, as well as some advice on how to modify your behavior so you don’t undermine your own success.


Avoid interrupting others

We all have our own unique way of communicating, which can manifest itself in different ways. But when it comes to business-speak, there are some universal rules to follow. Don’t interrupt others and wait for your turn to speak. This can be hard for some women who may have been socialized not to talk over each other and instead allow others to finish their thought. In business-speak that doesn’t apply—and you want people to think of you as decisive and assertive, not overly polite.


Keep your hands down

It’s not necessarily that you need to keep your hands out of sight, but it’s important to understand why they are positioned where they are. Why is there space between your hands and your body? What are you hiding? It’s hard to have a genuine conversation when you have both hands clasped in front of you, especially if those hands aren’t open and relaxed. It looks like you might be hiding something – either literally or figuratively – and there are much more comfortable ways to sit with your hands that don’t make people feel as though they can’t approach you.


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Don’t apologize for not knowing something

You don’t need to apologize for being unsure or lacking certain knowledge. You’re a woman, not an encyclopedia. There’s no need to fake it; instead of feeling like you have to prove yourself by knowing everything about your field, embrace your passion and strength for learning new things as part of what makes you great at what you do.


No self-deprecating comments

There’s nothing more off-putting than a woman who tears herself down. Even if you’re just trying to be funny, self-deprecating comments are not endearing, they’re awkward. Nobody thinks you’re as insecure as you seem when your main goal is to make other people feel superior. Make sure that your remarks and questions don’t put yourself down — if they don’t bolster others, they shouldn't do it for you either. Never apologize: In school and at work, girls are raised to say sorry! when there is no need.


Always use a friendly tone

In formal situations, you may be intimidated by higher-ups. Don’t let that stop you from speaking your mind! If you start with a positive, confident tone, others will be more likely to pay attention to what you have to say. This is especially important if you want credit for your ideas—you need people to believe that it was your idea first! Project an air of authority: Men tend to dominate meetings and discussions because they are more assertive than women. Assertiveness is defined as being direct while still appearing polite and professional. A direct approach can help you get credit for your ideas or criticism from others (without taking it personally). Some people are afraid of being too assertive because they worry about coming across as rude or blunt.


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Smile!

Unless you’re running for Miss America, smiling can help you get what you want. Think of it as a way to project friendliness and happiness. And—bonus!—it might actually increase your mood. When we feel positive emotion, we emit chemicals that prompt positive emotion in others, says Barbara Pachter, author of The Essentials of Business Etiquette.


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