Meetings are a natural habitat for some of the most fascinating species in the modern workplace. With a little observation, you can learn to identify them all before the first slide even loads.
First comes the Early Bird, who joins five minutes ahead and fills the silence with comments about the weather. They are harmless and, frankly, the reason anything starts on time.
Then there is the Eternal Mute, a person whose microphone is always off at precisely the moment they start their most important point. The rest of the group watches their lips move like a silent film.
You will also spot the Tangent Explorer, who turns a quick status update into a twenty-minute journey through unrelated ideas. Close behind is the Let's Take This Offline Specialist, who heroically tries to rescue everyone's afternoon.
Finally, there is the One Who Asks the Question at the Very End, just as everyone is reaching for the leave button. Their curiosity is admirable, even if the timing is legendary.
Whichever character you are, remember that a clear agenda and a firm end time can tame almost any meeting. And if all else fails, there is always the camera-off coffee refill.