Often when someone talks about meetings in their workplace it is to complain about how much time they eat up, how unproductive they are and how much they get in the way of the real work that needs to get done.
Sure sometimes meetings can be big time wasters and a lot of people go away feeling like nothing was accomplished or that they could have spent their time much more productively focusing on the work waiting for them back at their desks. I’ve been one of those people myself.
This isn’t another article about how to make meetings more efficient; rather it’s about reconsidering how we can use meetings as opportunities to shine individually and to show our strengths as team players.
Recently I heard a refreshing take on the positive role meetings can play that led me to re-think their value. The concept is that as meeting time expands and fills in more of our work schedules, we are actually shifting to a different playing field as professionals. How we perform as players on this particular field can enhance or limit our careers.
It’s an intriguing notion. Our professional personas are definitely magnified in a contained room, around a table with other people – and virtually on video calls – where information is shared, decisions get made and relationships are built.
We may not be consciously aware of how we come across to others sometimes but the reality is that our abilities, attitude, and personal demeanor are constantly being observed and evaluated.
In meetings, people will notice if you’re punctual, focused, and pleasant as well as how much you participate and how you express yourself when you do. You will also make an impression by how you treat others in the room and how you respond to disagreements, criticism and even praise.
To ensure you are putting your best foot forward in every meeting, there are some basic things that you can do but you must start first with a shift in attitude (believe me, people will notice if it’s positive).
First, come prepared. You may be expected to present information in the meeting in which case this is critically important, or you may be there to gather data or listen to someone else’s issues/concerns/ideas. Either way, show up ready and on time.
Second, know what your role is in the meeting. If you are a presenter be sure to deliver your message clearly and enthusiastically when it’s your turn to speak. Or if you are there to hear someone else’s information, then be a good listener and give thoughtful input when it is requested.
Third, be respectful of others and considerate in your interactions. Don’t monopolize the meeting and don’t steamroll others who may have different opinions than you. Instead, share the airtime, try to listen more than you talk and keep an open mind about different perspectives.
We still may never learn to love meetings but they are here to stay. If you must spend a lot of your time in them anyway, why not use each one as an opportunity to make a positive impression?
Written by Laurie Mills. Originally published in the Capital News, Kelowna, BC, 2009.