Standing in meetings a ‘no-no’

From forgetting a colleague’s name to accidentally sending a terse email to the boss, the potential to embarrass oneself in the office is great.

But researchers have at least identified one way of avoiding a professional faux pas – remain sitting down in meetings.

UK scientists said standing up in a meeting room may cause people more harm than good.

A study by King’s College London and Brunel University found participants who chose to stand rather than sit next to their colleagues during a meeting felt “awkward” and “stupid”. Academics said the pressure to conform to social norms and take a seat was often too great to resist.

Lead researcher Dr Benjamin Gardner said: “We found that standing in meetings is a social minefield. Our participants often felt awkward about standing. They felt more visible to others.”