You'd be surprised at how many people are more interested in what's going wrong in your life than what you're great at. As Penelope Trunk explains through an excerpt from Geoffrey James's book, *Business Without the B****hit*, these are some of the tips on how to shine in a meeting.
Know Your Agenda
Before you attend any meeting, check if they align with your plan. A meeting consumes time, and time is limited. Knowing what you are putting yourself into before you do it gets you closer to your goals.
Know Why The Meeting Was Called
There are only seven reasons why people call for a business meeting, and four out of seven of these reasons are most likely going to be vital to you, while three are likely not.
The important ones are; To get you to decide on something, hone their ideas, test out a presentation, and convey information. These weigh more pros than cons.
As aforementioned, time is of the essence and the following agenda are bound to waste it; To accomplish group writing, prove their importance, and fulfill a process step. They are never necessary to anybody. So plan not to attend for these reasons.
Limit Your Meeting Attendance
What's in it for me? Am I needed for the meeting? What will happen if I don't show up? These are the fundamental questions that you need to ask yourself before attending any session. Compare your own goals to the meeting. The benefit of hearing should be greater than other things.
Prepare Yourself Well
You are now in it for the meeting. You've gone past debating whether to attend or not. Your goal now is to contribute to the discussion. It should be in a way that reinforces your agenda. Keep your head in it by researching the meeting.
Gather Your Ideas
Take notes about what's being said; look for areas you can either add, remove or push your agenda. Walk in thoroughly prepared to express a thought-out idea.
Read The Room, Then Contribute
Make remarks toward the end of that part of the discussion. Speak confidently and light up the room. Ask questions that will help in the talk of the meeting. We ought to agree that Geoffrey just made attending meetings and preparing for them a whole lot easier.
