Why do you enter Teams/Zoom meetings early?

[Anonymous]

This is a ridiculous question, but WHY do people start Teams/Zoom/etc. meetings 5-15 minutes early. And if you are one of those people, do you expect the other people in the meeting to hop in as soon as you start it?

I prefer wait until the exact time that the meeting is supposed to start, that is why there is a start time.

[Anonymous]

I enter my smaller team meetings 5 minutes early most of the time if I can. A lot of us do - we like talking!

When I'm holding a meeting I try to enter right on time.

When I'm attending a meeting with a superior, especially if it's a smaller meeting, I try to enter 1-2 minutes before the start to respect their time but not be weirdly early.

[Anonymous]

If I am sharing a presentation or uploading documents I will go in early to test, setup polls, or create folders/upload the documents. If I am just attending then I may go a minute or two early. Especially if I have to be on video.

[Anonymous]

first one to virtual donuts!

[Anonymous]

I sign in 5 minutes early in case I have technical difficulties. I go on mute, though, if I'm early.

[Anonymous]

Got the time wrong
Want to double check my tech
General anxiety disorder
Want to be there to host any important early birds
Planning to chat with cohosts before we start the event

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sign in 5 minutes early in case I have technical difficulties. I go on mute, though, if I'm early.

This. Or chat about nothing to try to get to know people better.

[Anonymous]

I prefer to log on when I get that 15 minute notification, but stay on mute with camera off. Then I can just work the next 15 minutes uninterrupted and without watching the clock: I'll hear you start the meeting and switch screens.

I don't want to chat beforehand, no. People who do are the reason I can't always log in early.

[Anonymous]

In this way, Zoom is EXACTLY like meeting in real life: I like to check in a little early to chat with other folks before the meeting starts - sometimes about things that are not on the meeting agenda.

[Anonymous]

I subscribe to the “if you’re early you’re on time, if you’re on time you’re late” train of thought. I’m early in person too. No more than 5 minutes early for online meetings and 10 for in person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I prefer to log on when I get that 15 minute notification, but stay on mute with camera off. Then I can just work the next 15 minutes uninterrupted and without watching the clock: I'll hear you start the meeting and switch screens.

I don't want to chat beforehand, no. People who do are the reason I can't always log in early.

+1 to all of this. I hate it when people say a meeting is at 12 PM, and then start casually rolling in at 12:03 and the actual meeting begins at 12:10, followed by "let's give everyone another minute..." for an extra 10-15.

[Anonymous]

B/c in real life I show up 5 min early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I subscribe to the “if you’re early you’re on time, if you’re on time you’re late” train of thought. I’m early in person too. No more than 5 minutes early for online meetings and 10 for in person.

Same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I subscribe to the “if you’re early you’re on time, if you’re on time you’re late” train of thought. I’m early in person too. No more than 5 minutes early for online meetings and 10 for in person.

Same.

+2

Why is this even a question, OP? You clearly aren't cut of the same DCUM competitive clothe as the rest of us...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I am sharing a presentation or uploading documents I will go in early to test, setup polls, or create folders/upload the documents. If I am just attending then I may go a minute or two early. Especially if I have to be on video.

This. Always start early to troubleshoot if I’m the host. Almost never join early and if so, barely.