Are Your Meetings a Four-Letter Word?

Part of why some of us dread meetings within our company or nonprofit organization is because they often force us to do “public speaking.” We are called upon – or expected – to say something of value.  I believe everyone who goes to a meeting needs to be ready to contribute to its goals. That usually requires a bit of pre-planning, just as any other good public speaking demands. If you go in totally cold, it’s hard to be warm and ready to say anything meaningful.

Another reason why we dread meetings is because they can become a four-letter word when not controlled by a leader in a positive way. I’ve left certain meetings with a huge headache, feeling frustrated or disappointed, and you probably have, too. Having an agenda is not enough. You want to be sure that everyone gets heard, not just the direct personalities. Further, I believe you want some kind of action and collaboration to come out of every meeting. If not, why meet? Ask yourself: what’s your meeting’s true purpose?

I have found that you usually have two levels of volume at meetings – the louder folks and the quieter ones.  If you’re in the louder volume category, ready to speak before you’re even asked, I recommend a bit of pre-meeting reflection to help you craft a more thoughtful recommendation when it’s your turn. If you are among the quieter types who often get overlooked or unheard at meetings, doing a bit of “out loud” practice ahead of time will give you confidence to share what you see as important.

Who has the responsibility to create an environment where there is mutual respecteven when disagreement may be strong? While I believe the leader needs to set the standard, all of us in attendance share the obligation as well. Phrases like, “the problem with that is …” and “here we go again …” and other disparaging remarks throw a negativity and counter-productive tone into the mix.

The good news is that meetings can also produce wonderful solutions and out-of-the-box thinking, building valuable relationships and trust over time.

If you have not already liked our Speakout, Inc. Facebook page, I invite you to click on the link now.

Best Regards,