Question

Active participation in meetings helps you showcase your talents and advance your career. In the following situation, consider how Yakov appears to his colleagues. The planning session had been long but productive. Yakov had been quiet throughout the meeting. He spent his time texting messages to his son on his cell phone instead of listening or asking questions. The director finished by summarizing the plan to reschedule stock offerings. Everyone was preparing to leave when Yakov raised his hand. “I don’t know if we covered this,” he said, “but have we talked about rescheduling the stock offerings yet? I don’t think we should wait until the fall.”

What could Yakov do to make the next meeting more effective and productive?

Come prepared
Put the cell phone away
Remain quiet

Answer 1

Answer: The correct answer is to come prepared and put the cell phone away.

Explanation: When you are participating in a company meeting it is expected that you are prepared and give all of your attention to the meeting and the person running the meeting.

Using your cell phone in not an acceptable business practice in a meeting. You are distracted and in many cases unaware of your surroundings. It is important to prepare for the meeting and then pay attention and contribute during the meeting.