Part A: Include yourself.
If you notice that you are frequently silent for weeks a time in meeting settings, you are missing out on the benefits of the babble effect.
Speaking increases your visibility. And visibility = credibility = promotions and an increased perception of your value at your company. Adopt a SMART approach to raising your participation frequency. It’s easy to measure. You spoke? Touchdown.
1. Dare to be dull.
You may be holding yourself back because something you’re thinking is obvious to you. It’s possible that it's obvious to you because of your expertise. Next time, share your thought.
2. Host.
Get to the meeting room early and welcome someone. Stay an extra moment in the room and thank someone for their great thought. It's a small warm way to increase your visibility and absolutely counts as speaking more.
3. WWJD.
Ask yourself what would Josh do? Josh is the guy who looks after himself. He's lovely but he's also all about Josh. Ask yourself who Josh compliment? Continue from there.
4. Amplifyher.
Notice someone saying something worthy of note and say, Good point Helen! This absolutely counts towards increasing your own participation frequency.
5. Size matters.
Take up space at the table. At online meetings, turn your camera on and adjust the view so we see you and not your ceiling.
Part B: Include others.
1. Share the agenda in advance.
This helps people know what you're looking for, helps the introverted and those who are slower to respond in the moment get ready in advance. Share an agenda that is beyond weekly team meet. That's not an agenda that's the forum. You can also, relationship depending, let someone know in advance you'd be happy for their input. Ask them if they would be comfortable contributing.
2. Images.
Use images of people that are inclusive. Not all people look the same. Your presentation images should recognize that.
3. Share roles within the meeting.
Ask someone else to be responsible for time keeping, over talking and interruptions.
4. Don't let the ‘devil's advocate’ block creativity.
To counteract the person who always shoots down suggestions on your team, You can say, “Who sees it differently?” and “Who here would like to build off that idea?” or, “What would you suggest instead?”
5. Wait a hot moment.
Ask for responses from people who have not yet spoken up and then hold the space. It’s ok to make a note to yourself or doodle or organize your desk if waiting makes you uncomfortable. Count to three or five or eight.
6. Follow up
People who speak up more, enjoy and evaluate meetings more positively. Check how well you are doing as a team leader committed to inclusive meetings by asking your participants whether they enjoyed the meeting – or not.
Overall, IQ is set at birth. It’s impacted by environmental factors and opportunity, but it’s largely pre-set. EQ, on the other hand, can improve throughout your lifetime.
Whether you have presentation or public speaking concerns or aren’t super comfortable including others in your meetings, it’s ok.
You really can get better at this.
If you apply even one of these principles, you already have.
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