We waste a lot of time in meetings. When it used to be that half of all business meetings were considered a waste of time, it’s hard to say we’ve gotten any better in this age of video conferencing. The most common complaints about meetings: they don’t yield definitive results, the attendees are poorly prepared, and the process is disorganized. When meetings aren’t productive, people start missing meetings or doing other work during meetings (we can tell when you’re distracted on Zoom, you know!). Unnecessary meetings cost U.S. businesses $37 billion—billion with a B—each year, and they’re happening in your office right now.

But take heart! Whether you’re organizing or attending these meetings, the key to productive meetings lies in these three etiquette tips.

Be on time

There is no excuse for lateness when there is literally a waiting room for your meeting. Joining an online meeting late, while perhaps less intrusive than walking into a room late, still sends the message that your time is more important than everyone else’s, or that you can’t keep a schedule. Imagine how your coworkers feel to wait for you to arrive or to get caught up. If you are habitually late, this can be a sign of a deeper issue, such as an overbooked schedule or troubled time management. And it should go without saying that if you respond that you will come to a meeting, that you actually do attend.

Prepare

Have you ever walked into an interview where the interviewer was hurriedly reviewing your resume for the first time? That probably made you feel unimportant and like that person didn’t have their act together. So don’t be that person at a meeting. Come prepared with the meeting agenda and any handouts emailed in advance, and with notes on your thoughts and speaking points. Thoroughly review any background materials. If you have a critical role in the meeting, check with the organizer to see what’s expected of you, and be prepared to answer any questions that fall in your wheelhouse.

Participate without taking over

The first rule of participation? Be present! Listen, take notes, and respond as appropriate, instead of doing other work or playing on your phone—yes, that means paying attention on Zoom and never having to say, “Oh sorry, what were we talking about?” (Some people have made this a habit on Zoom, and it is not a good look!) So now that you’re present, the second rule is to participate! Offer up information and insight without feeling like you have to comment on every little thing. And while you’re at it, make sure you stick to the agenda instead of delving into something off topic or relevant only to you. You can mention these items, but quickly offer to take them offline. Always let the organizer steer the show, even if it means steering you back on track.