7 Habits That Make You Look Unprofessional in Meetings

Picture a meeting at work, where impatience, bored eye-rolling, shuffling, and deafening silence follows your attempts to share an idea. It’s not necessarily what you say. Sometimes, it’s the little things—the negative behaviors you might be unaware of—that make you look unprofessional in a meeting. The following behaviors can undermine your professional image without you even knowing it. 

1. Arriving late 

Be sure to factor in travel time if you work in a large building or have a long commute. Arrive five minutes early, have a seat, and get in the zone. It’s one of the simplest ways to start to be taken seriously. If it’s a virtual meeting, be in front of your computer—with coffee and notebook at the ready—before the meeting starts, not after. 

2. Checking your phone or laptop 

You don’t even think about doing it, do you? Swiping through WhatsApp or TikTok while someone is speaking to you in a meeting is profoundly unprofessional and disrespectful to that person. Close the tab, turn off notifications, and give others the gift of your attention. You’re there, right? 

3. Making excuses or complaining 

Sure, moaning and groaning about work or home is a natural thing. However, too much of a good thing loses its magic. Nobody has energy to spare for whiners. If you have a serious gripe, own up to what’s on your mind. Ask, “What can I do to make this better?” Nobody likes a victim. 

4. Interrupting 

You may think you’re looking attentive by interrupting a conversation. However, jumping in before someone else has finished their sentence? Not the best approach. It’s also unprofessional. Don’t be so hasty with your responses in meetings. Take time to listen and pause to think before you reply. You’ll earn the respect to make what you’re going to say land with others. 

5. Bragging 

Sharing good news with others is great. Bragging about yourself isn’t. Be proud of your achievements but let your actions do the talking. If someone else has done well, use the meeting to give them a shoutout. That’s one of the ways you become a great leader. 

6. Looking messy 

Casual Friday is one thing, but showing up on Monday looking like you’ve just rolled out of bed is unprofessional. It says, “I’m disorganized. I’m not doing anything of note and don’t care about anyone else either.” Respect yourself and others by taking five minutes to get yourself put together properly. 

7. Missing meetings 

Sure, everyone needs a day off now and again. However, if you’re someone who regularly ditches important gatherings or conferences to get your head down, you’re soon seen as unapproachable and unreliable. Invest in yourself and others by turning up and showing what you’re made of.