meeting room rules in the workplace

Meeting Room Etiquette: 8 Rules For Conference Rooms

who this class is for

Employees, managers, and professionals

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Shop for etiquette, behavioral, and contextual signs

About this micro-class

Effective meeting room management contributes to a more organized and productive work environment and an efficient meeting culture within the organization.

Meeting Room Etiquette

1. Appropriate Use

Use meeting rooms only for meetings, discussions, or calls. Otherwise, leave the meeting room free.

Avoid occupying a meeting room for your personal use, even when the room is vacant. Don’t move into a meeting room to concentrate or work from there.

Don’t eat in a meeting room.

2. Reservations

Always check and reserve meeting rooms in advance using your company’s booking system. If a booking system is not available, leave a note on the door with the time and the subject of the meeting.

Before booking a meeting room, make sure that the room is of the appropriate size for hosting all the meeting attendants.

If you no longer need the room, cancel the reservation promptly.

3. Punctuality

Be on time for meetings. If you’re running late, inform the team in advance.

Wrap up meetings on time to avoid inconvenience for the next group.

4. Materials and Equipment

Bring any necessary materials (e.g., notes, laptops, chargers) to avoid disruptions.

Provide handouts or electronic copies of relevant documents in advance.

Ensure that there are enough chairs for everyone. 

5. Technology

Familiarize yourself with the meeting room technology in advance.

Test audio, video, and presentation tools before the meeting starts.

Mute microphones when not speaking to reduce background noise.

6. Noise Level

Be mindful of noise levels when entering or leaving the room.

Keep conversations at an appropriate volume to avoid disturbing neighboring meetings and coworkers.

Avoid side conversations and distractions on electronic devices.

7. Confidentiality

Ensure confidentiality and privacy during meetings when they involve confidential or privileged information.

Close the door and windows during meetings.

If you are projecting slides with sensitive information, make sure that they can be seen only by the meeting attendants.

8. Tidiness

Return the room to its default setup after the meeting (for example, tidy up chairs, and clean whiteboard).

If you rearrange furniture, put it back the way you found it.

Clean after yourself. Clear any cups and glasses. Wipe any food or beverage spills.

Meeting Room Etiquette Worst Mistakes

Overbooking

Avoid booking multiple meeting rooms simultaneously unless necessary.

Ignoring Time Limits

Respect the allocated meeting time to avoid delays for subsequent bookings.

Disruptive Behavior

Refrain from disruptive actions, such as loud conversations or unexpected room changes.

Neglecting Technology Issues

Report any technology issues promptly to ensure they are resolved for future meetings.

Unauthorized Access

unauthorized use of third party content

Don’t enter a meeting room without a reservation or when it’s already occupied.

Test your knowledge with a quick test and earn a free micro-certificate

Shop for etiquette, behavioral, and contextual signs

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