Hopping on Teams or Zoom for a business call can bring some funny habits out of people, and sometimes they reveal just how desperate people are to be liked.
These behaviours might seem harmless, but they usually come across as forced. Sure, everyone wants to stand out among their colleagues, but you don’t need to try so hard to be noticed or make friends. Thankfully, spotting where you’re going wrong can help you sound more natural and confident.
1. Laughing at absolutely everything
Some people chuckle at every joke or comment just to stay in the group’s good books. The problem is, constant laughter can sound insincere and distract from the actual conversation. It doesn’t build respect, it makes you look eager.
Save your laughter for genuine moments. People notice when you’re authentic, and it makes your reactions feel more valuable. A natural laugh here and there carries more weight than forced giggles every two minutes.
2. Overusing people’s names
Dropping names constantly during a call can feel like a tactic rather than natural conversation. Instead of building rapport, it can make people feel you’re trying too hard to sound personal or persuasive.
Use names occasionally where it makes sense, not every other sentence. Keeping it natural shows you’re engaged without trying to manipulate the chat. Less is more when it comes to sounding genuine.
3. Agreeing with every single point
Nodding along verbally to everything said makes you seem less credible. It’s obvious you can’t possibly agree with every statement, so doing so looks like you’re chasing approval rather than adding your own perspective.
Pick moments where you genuinely agree and share why. Adding a little thought makes your contribution sound real. People respect balanced input more than constant “yes, exactly” comments that don’t add anything new.
4. Talking over everyone to be noticed
Jumping in mid-sentence just to make your point first often looks pushy. Instead of showing confidence, it signals insecurity, as if you’re worried you’ll be forgotten if you don’t speak immediately.
Wait for a natural pause before adding your thoughts. Speaking when it’s your turn makes you sound calmer and more credible, and people are more likely to actually listen instead of being irritated.
5. Overexplaining simple ideas
Stretching out your points with long, repetitive detail often feels like you’re trying to prove you belong. Instead of sounding knowledgeable, it can make people switch off or think you’re unsure of yourself.
Keep it short and clear. When you can sum things up in a few sentences, people pay more attention and see you as confident. Less waffle usually means more impact.
6. Saying “great point” to everyone
Constantly praising people without adding substance can sound hollow. While one or two acknowledgements are fine, overdoing it makes it obvious you’re trying to stay liked rather than genuinely engaged.
Mix in your own perspective alongside compliments. Instead of just saying “good point,” explain why it resonated. It keeps your input meaningful while still showing support for colleagues.
7. Filling silence with nervous chatter
When a pause comes up, some people rush to fill it with unnecessary talk. It usually comes across as anxiety rather than leadership, and it can disrupt the flow of the call more than help it.
Let silence sit for a moment. Often someone else will naturally speak up, or the pause gives people space to think. Respecting silence makes you appear composed instead of desperate for attention.
8. Repeating what other people literally just said
Echoing someone else’s point without adding anything new doesn’t build credibility. It shows you’re trying to stay in the mix but don’t have fresh input. As time goes on, it makes your contributions feel redundant.
Instead of repeating, expand. Add an example, ask a follow-up question, or build on the idea. That way, you contribute something useful rather than just recycling what’s already been said.
9. Overusing phrases like “absolutely” or “100 percent”
Throwing in these phrases constantly can sound like filler rather than genuine enthusiasm. It’s fine occasionally, but when every sentence starts with one, it makes you seem more eager to impress than thoughtful.
Dial it back by varying your responses. Try adding a short reason behind your agreement instead. It keeps your language fresh and shows you’ve actually thought about what was said.
10. Talking just to prove you’re still there
Some people feel the need to chime in with small, pointless comments just so nobody forgets them. Instead of making you look engaged, it can make colleagues wish you’d stayed quiet until you had something real to add.
Focus on quality over frequency. Even a single strong point stands out more than five shallow ones. People will remember the moments you added real value, not the times you filled space unnecessarily.
11. Trying too hard to be funny
Light humour can lift a call, but forced jokes often fall flat. If you’re constantly cracking lines, it can look like you’re more focused on being liked than on the actual discussion.
Keep humour natural and occasional. One well-timed comment is enough to make people smile without distracting from the purpose of the call. Authentic humour works, forced humour rarely does.
12. Always deferring to other people on everything, even in your areas of expertise
It’s polite to let other people speak, but if you never hold your own ground, it can look like you’re avoiding responsibility. People might see you as agreeable but not dependable, which hurts credibility long-term.
Balance respect with confidence. Share your perspective clearly when you have something to add. Showing you can contribute as well as support makes you look both approachable and reliable.
13. Ending with over-the-top gratitude
Wrapping up every call with “thank you so much, this has been amazing” can sound exaggerated if you do it every time. It starts to feel less like gratitude and more like flattery for approval.
Keep your thanks simple and specific. A short “thanks for your time” feels more genuine. When you’re sincere, people take you more seriously than when you overdo the praise.
