Why do you enter Teams/Zoom meetings early?

[Anonymous]

I’ll log in up to 4 min early for a virtual meeting internal to our agency. I do this because my outlook pings me so much throughout the day that I mostly ignore it that I have to rely on watching the clock. Logging in early allows me to focus on finishing what I’m working on and then switch to the meeting only when I hear the conversation start.
Also logging in right on time allows no time for a suddenly slow computer (happens often) or random glitches.

[Anonymous]

To make sure it works. I just mute and turn off the camera. Who cares.

[Anonymous]

This thread is blowing my mind. I spend 8 hours a day on teams/zoom meetings. I never log in early to check my tech - what’s the point? How rarely are you doing online meetings that you have to check whether your mic is working? And my meetings are usually back to back so no time to show up early. I’m lucky to show up on time. Considering job hunting now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is blowing my mind. I spend 8 hours a day on teams/zoom meetings. I never log in early to check my tech - what’s the point? How rarely are you doing online meetings that you have to check whether your mic is working? And my meetings are usually back to back so no time to show up early. I’m lucky to show up on time. Considering job hunting now!

I do zoom a few times a week. People have different kinds of jobs. Definitely mind-blowing.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes I miss the Outlook reminder at 0 minutes, also I don't want to be watching the clock instead of doing a few more minutes of productive work. So I just log on at the first reminder, turn off my camera, mute myself, and go back to work until I hear a quorum of people or the actual important attendees. Being first on means I can pretend I logged on and walked away so I don't have to participate in the early meeting chit chat.

[Anonymous]

Because I've got to keep a leg up on the competition. Getting in early and claiming some virtual space in a meeting is one way to do that. Want to get left in the dust? Cool, sign in to a 2:00p meeting at 2:00.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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...

And you can’t spell. How embarrassing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because I've got to keep a leg up on the competition. Getting in early and claiming some virtual space in a meeting is one way to do that. Want to get left in the dust? Cool, sign in to a 2:00p meeting at 2:00.

I assume this is sarcasm.

[Anonymous]

This is an interesting thread. I feel something close to hatred for the person who starts the meeting more than five minutes before it’s meant to start. It’s like they are being over competitive, or overprepared, it stresses me out to see that they are sitting there waiting for me when the meeting isn’t supposed to have started. Those of you joining meetings 10 minutes early, know that some of us loathe you. By the way I am not talking about very large meetings of 50+ people where it may make sense to join early, and people may be socializing. I’m Talking about all the other meetings

[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.

OP here - thank you, I've always wondered about people who start 15 minutes early and this thought never crossed my mind. I understand!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: This is an interesting thread. I feel something close to hatred for the person who starts the meeting more than five minutes before it’s meant to start. It’s like they are being over competitive, or overprepared, it stresses me out to see that they are sitting there waiting for me when the meeting isn’t supposed to have started. Those of you joining meetings 10 minutes early, know that some of us loathe you. By the way I am not talking about very large meetings of 50+ people where it may make sense to join early, and people may be socializing. I’m Talking about all the other meetings

OP here - I don't have the same visceral hatred as you do but the bolded part is kind of what I was feeling when I asked the question. That said, I really appreciate hearing everyone's answers, I really did want to know, and I've learned from you all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: This is an interesting thread. I feel something close to hatred for the person who starts the meeting more than five minutes before it’s meant to start. It’s like they are being over competitive, or overprepared, it stresses me out to see that they are sitting there waiting for me when the meeting isn’t supposed to have started. Those of you joining meetings 10 minutes early, know that some of us loathe you. By the way I am not talking about very large meetings of 50+ people where it may make sense to join early, and people may be socializing. I’m Talking about all the other meetings

This is you way overthinking it. Most likely, no one is sitting there staring at the clock waiting for you or being competitive. They simply logged on when they received the calendar reminder and are tending to other things whlie waiting for the meeting to start.

[Anonymous]

Because I don’t want to stare at a clock. I’ll log on ten minutes early (expecting the waiting room) so I can then go run to the restroom, finish an email, whatever without being stressed about logging in EXACTLY thirty seconds early.

[Anonymous]

Outlook gives me a 5 minute reminder, so I usually join then and go back to what I was doing. If I ignore it, I am inevitably a few minutes late. I would rather sit by myself for a few min waiting than be late.

[Anonymous]

I join 5-10 minutes early, mute myself, and walk away to get some water or go to the bathroom before the meeting starts. That way I'm ready and I know everything works by the time other people come in.