What Sighing in Meetings says about You
Don’t sigh in meetings. While this sounds ridiculous, going to this level of detail in office etiquette, the devil’s in the details. Sighing may say something about you, that’s not true, or cause an unintended image that you doesn’t represent what you’re thinking or feeling.
Passive-Aggressive Body Language?
You’d be surprised how many executives, managers, and knowledge workers involuntarily sigh in meetings. They don’t intend to sound bored or annoyed. When they sigh, they’re just breathing, because they haven’t taken a breath in a long time. Frankly, it sounds like sighing as a passive-aggressive act, and that’s bad. Why? First, if you’re sighing when your boss or CEO is talking, then your sigh makes it sound like you don’t agree or you’re thinking something to the effect, “Get on with it” or “Oh brother, here he or she goes again…”
What does Sighing Reflect about You?
This is such a nit that you may not think is relevant, but it is. Meetings are your stage to demonstrate why you’re management or executive material; it’s your place to show others to have confidence in you. By unintentionally sighing, you reflect an image that you don’t want, possibly undermining your image.
Don’t Even Sigh For Effect
Even if you want to sigh for effect, I don’t recommend it. It’s still a dramatic act. Don’t be that person, who’s becomes known as passive aggressive. In the right conditions, be straight forward with your boss or peers with your disagreements or disapproval. Remember, learn to breathe by breathing quietly in meetings.
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