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"Meeting" Your Future
"The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today's work extremely well!"
Unknown
Jerry was in a hurry to attend his monthly strategic meeting with his peers and upper management. He wished he had read the email from the last meeting a little more closely because it asked that he prepare feedback from his staff on the new software that was implemented six months ago. While he never asked his staff for feedback, he felt his comments and insights would be good enough. He also wished he had chosen to wear his new crisp white shirt as opposed to the one he had on which had turned a light gray from so many washings and was slightly wrinkled.
As he approached the meeting room, he realized the meeting had already started but he felt confident he could sneak in unnoticed. As his turn came around to give feedback on the new software, he found himself stumbling to find the right words and decided to make an attempt at humor for his lack of clear communication. The humor backfired. He began to feel embarrassed for his lack of preparation so he decided to ask a question about another topic to divert attention away from his predicament. Little did he know that someone had just asked this same question and the group decided to table the discussion until more information could be gathered next month. In other words, Jerry was so busy worrying about his lack of preparation that he stopped listening and caused the group to revisit a topic that had already been discussed.
The last portion of these monthly meetings was to remind the group of each department's goals and they were progressing towards the goals. Jerry felt prepared to let the group know why he was not able to hit his targets this month because the marketplace was in a recession and his customers were just not buying like they use to. As Jerry let these explanations flow from his mouth, he felt the room go silent and the air grew heavy. Jerry was speaking from experience but somehow these explanations began to feel and sound like excuses as other managers were hitting their target goals under the same market conditions. Jerry left the meeting joking with his peers but little did he know his future with this company had just derailed.
Ah, meetings....those weekly, monthly and quarterly times when you gather with subordinates, peers and superiors to share information, learn from each other and decide on how to move the company forward. They seem innocent enough with so many people participating ...who would think that one person stands out and is noticed?
Think again! Meetings are the time and place when your future is decided. So many employees are totally unaware of how they are being perceived by others in a meeting. Like Jerry, they think they can "wing" it and say whatever comes into their minds without any repercussions.
Unfortunately, this way of thinking will derail your career and may eventually lead you out the door. So, what should you be paying attention to while in a meeting?
- Someone is always watching you! Whether it is a superior that can promote or demote you or direct reports that can decide to leave your leadership, know that you are on stage in a meeting and you need to put your best foot forward
- Clear Communication. Are you able to articulate your thoughts in a way that others can understand. Whether you speak in short factual bullets like or tell poignant stories to get your point across, find out if you are effective by asking others if what you say makes sense.
- Get Results. Do you do what you say you will do? Are you dependable by being prepared and following through? Do you get results and take ownership when you don't versus making excuses?
- Show up on Time. Is the group always waiting for you? Do you show up when you say you will show up?
- Great Listener. Repeat back those great ideas you hear to give credit to others and show you are listening. Ask questions that show you are listening and bring the conversation to a deeper level. In other words, ask questions that others may not have thought about...
- Dress Professionally. While suits and ties may be fading from many organizations today, you can still be dressed smartly by wearing ironed clothing and being well groomed with styled hair, makeup, polished shoes and manicured hands.
Know that these six concepts also apply to meetings you share in your community. I am amazed at how many people show up unprepared at committee meetings or service clubs. They do not understand that they are on stage while attending these meetings and that their performance will either gain new customers or create new critics based on how they handle themselves in public.
Question for You:
Do you feel that meetings are a time when you can just lay back and be yourself without consequence? Do you like telling others how you are good at "winging" it at meetings? Do you feel that meetings should not be taken so seriously?
Action for You:
This is your wake up call. Not only are meetings critical to the success of your organization, they are critical to the future of your career. You need to prepare for a meeting the way you might prepare to be on stage. Understand that you are under a microscope and others are watching to see how you perform..... especially in the areas listed above.
"The best way to predict your future is to create it."
Abraham Lincoln
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