Comparing Nonverbal Counterproductive Meeting Behaviors: When Trying to Be Subtle Backfires

Key Points

• This research investigates how subtle nonverbal counterproductive meeting behaviors are perceived by meeting members and the effect of apologies on these perceptions.
• Explored perceptions of subtle nonverbal counterproductive meeting behaviors using expectancy violations theory.
• Compared perceptions between different conditions including mobile communication and arriving late.
• Assessed the impact of apologies on the perception of nonverbal counterproductive meeting behaviors.
• Subtle nonverbal counterproductive meeting behaviors were viewed more negatively than the control condition.
• Mobile communication was seen more negatively than arriving late.
• Apologies did not significantly affect perceptions of subtle nonverbal counterproductive meeting behaviors.

Abstract