Read the article we have written for WeAreTheCity here: 8 tips for greater impact in meetings
Like a lot of people, you probably spend a lot of time in meetings (face to face or virtual), right?
Meetings can be great, but they can also be a frustrating experience; time-consuming and not productive enough. We’ve probably all experienced that.
Ultimately, we can’t control what others do, we only have full control of our own contribution to those meetings.
So, with that in mind, what can you do to make the most of the meetings you’re in, to have the impact you want, thereby making them as productive and useful as possible?
Here are 8 quick meeting impact tips!
- How do you want to be?
Before going into a meeting, don’t just think about what you are going to do or say. Think also about how you want to be in that meeting. Ask yourself: what impact do I want to have? Spend time preparing your impact in advance by thinking both about what to do and how to be.
- Have your impact radar out.
Work out what effect you are having on those around you, stop and take a look around you. How do you make people feel and react? Then you can change your approach if you need to get a different result.
- Be a keen observer.
Observe without demonstrating any judgement, just aim to understand what is going on around you. By doing this you become better at working out what people need and how to communicate effectively with them.
- Be intentional.
Be intentional about your reactions and responses, don’t let your “autopilot” run you and your responses. Choose with care and intention.
- Ask questions.
You don’t have to have all the answers. Better questions lead to better answers, so inject questions to progress conversations (that are stuck) and find answers.
- Share openly.
Generously share relevant information with others, this can encourage others to be generous too and you will all gain more. Avoid just repeating what others have already said.
- Stay focused.
Remember the purpose of the meeting and stay focused on driving towards to outcomes agreed. If the conversations drift off topic, respectfully suggest parking those conversations for another time.
- Honour people’s time.
Be on time for meetings. If you’re running the meeting – start on time and manage the agenda so you can finish on time.
‘In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. That means we have 1,440 daily opportunities to make a positive impact.’
Les Brown
Wishing you a great, impactful week of meetings!
About the authors
Mandy Flint & Elisabet Vinberg Hearn, multi-award-winning authors of “Leading Teams – 10 Challenges: 10 Solutions” and ”The Team Formula”.
Their latest book “The Leader’s Guide to Impact” published April 2019 by Financial Times International is an in-depth practical guide to creating the impact you want.
You can download a free chapter of the book at www.2020visionleader.com
Praise for “The Leader’s Guide to Impact” – “If there is one book you read on leadership, this is it. It’s jam-packed with practical tips, stories and frameworks to help you to be the best leader you can possibly be by taking control of your impact on those around you. Elisabet and Mandy hit the leadership nail on the head every time! I wish this book was around 20 years ago!” Vanessa Vallely, OBE, Managing Director, WeAreTheCity, author, “Heels of Steel”
