Ghosting for a better lunch

# The Curious Case of the Ghosted Teams Meetings: A Commentary on Modern Professional Etiquette

It's been long said that technology would revolutionize business. However, no one anticipated that part of this 'revolution' would include professional business people discovering the audacious art of 'ghosting' on digital platforms like Microsoft Teams. Yet, in the age of the remote work boom, that's exactly what seems to be happening, with a cavalier disregard for the good old-fashioned principles of punctuality and communication.?

What once would have elicited gasps of incredulity or scathing looks now barely raises an eyebrow. Like a pack of elusive unicorns, business professionals have mastered the skill of being consistently 'unavailable' for Teams meetings. It seems the digital age has introduced a whole new arena for rudeness, hidden behind the convenient excuses of "poor internet connectivity" and "camera dysfunction."

Let's take a moment to visualise the scene. The stage is set, the hour is nigh. Participants sit patiently, staring at the same "Waiting for others to join" screen as the minutes tick by. Occasionally, a brave soul throws in a cheeky comment, "Should we start charging for no-shows?" Or, even better, "Is this a new version of hide-and-seek I wasn't aware of?"

When did it become acceptable to leave colleagues hanging in the void of virtual reality? Our ancestors would be rolling in their graves. A bit of hyperbole, perhaps, but the level of professional ghosting has reached a fever pitch. It's become so frequent that employees have taken to placing bets on how many 'no shows' they'll have during a meeting. In some companies, the over-under is apparently a respectable pastime.

The Teams meeting, once a beacon of hope for meaningful collaboration and communication, has turned into the digital equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle – where professionals disappear without a trace. The only remnant of their presence being the seemingly innocent notification: "John Doe is no longer in the meeting." John Doe, we hardly knew ye.

Of course, it's not all gloom and doom. This could be a golden opportunity for Microsoft to introduce a "Teams Bingo" – complete with squares for “no-show”, “mic not working”, “frozen video”, and the ever-popular “sorry, I was talking on mute.”?

On a more serious note, it’s high time we reflect on this new breed of professional discourtesy. Is it the anonymity provided by technology that makes us feel invincible and therefore, exempt from basic etiquette? Or is it that the pace of today's business world has made us devalue the importance of respecting others' time?

Either way, it's a trend that we need to address and correct. After all, a meeting missed is an opportunity missed. Plus, let's face it, no one likes to be ghosted, even if it is just on Teams. Remember, the next time you contemplate no-showing a meeting, someone on the other side of the screen is waiting, possibly betting on your absence, and that’s just not a reputation anyone needs.

And as for you serial ghosters out there #OrBitMarkets, let's tighten up those professional belts and set a new trend - one of respect, punctuality, and, dare I say, consistent presence in Teams meetings. Until then, happy haunting!