If you think that meetings are a mundane, even pointless part of your working day you are not alone. According to a survey over half of UK office workers believe they waste too much time in meetings. However, if you enter every meeting with a sense of dread, you are unlikely to get anything from it or to show your value. Meetings are a part of every job, and whether you like them or not, they are part of the business for most companies. If you stand out in a meeting, your colleagues and manager will appreciate the participation and opportunity to hear your thoughts. Meetings can also be a way to make yourself visible, even if you are generally quiet in the workplace. These are some tips to help you stand out in a meeting.
Prepare in Advance
If you are the type of person who checks the meeting agenda five minutes before or even after you have entered the meeting room, you probably won’t impress anyone. Preparing in advance allows you to gather your thoughts on the subject matter and create some worthwhile questions and topics of conversation. Meetings can sometimes even lead to opportunities to progress within the business, so it is worthwhile knowing what to expect before you enter the meeting room.
Contribute
If contributing to a meeting makes you feel anxious, you are not in isolation. You will find that most people feel nervous about talking during a meeting, for fear of saying something silly or being ignored, unless they are super confident. The meeting lead will probably feel the same too and will welcome the opportunity to let you speak. One of the soft skills employers look for is your ability to communicate with your colleagues. Failure to contribute can make you seem uninterested. Ensure that you offer something worthwhile in the meeting, even if it is the only time you speak. Preparing in advance can help you with this. If you bring one brilliant idea to the table, it won’t matter if you don’t say anything else.
Arrive Early
There is nothing worse than arriving late to a meeting when it is already underway. It comes across as unprofessional and makes you seem unorganised, especially if you arrive late with a Starbucks coffee in hand! It is also frustrating for the organiser as they may have covered topics that affect you. Aim to arrive at least five minutes before the meeting starts.
Take Notes
Not all meetings will interest you, but it is important to show an interest anyway. You can do this by taking notes during the meeting. This doesn’t mean you spend the entire meeting with your head buried in your notebook though, you should aim to look intently and listen, while also taking notes.
Don’t Interrupt
We all know those people who don’t let us finish a sentence before they interrupt. It is highly frustrating and comes across as ignorant. Even if you are desperate to get your opinion across, wait until there is a gap in the conversation.
If you are in the market for a new job, we can help you at Morgan Spencer. Our experienced consultants are on hand to support your next career move. You can contact us today to find out more.