10 top tips for being magnetic in meetings

By Lindsay Maclean. Many people believe that the words they say in meetings are enough to prompt action, make change, inspire and influence.  But words alone are not enough.

Over the past 20 years in personal development I’ve been fortunate to come across the most compelling communicators and powerful techniques that help people shine in meetings.

Here are my top tips…

Intention

When you’re clear on your intention for communicating, you’ll naturally maintain focus and are more likely to speak with conviction. Take the time to think about what you are hoping to achieve in the meeting. What do you intend the audience in the meeting to think, feel and do? If you activate their thought process, stir their emotions, they are far more likely to leave and feel motivated to act.

Use Stories

Those people that are compelling and engaging in meetings use stories whatever the content and circumstances. I’ve seen pitches in the financial industry brought to life through wonderful stories and I’ve seen stories used for effective negotiations in law firms. This approach is far more powerful than reading a list of facts on a script in front of you or a PowerPoint slide.

Use ‘I’

Using ‘I’ in meetings makes it personable and relatable.  We all know the people that overdo the “I” and there’s no need to be the over the top but on the whole, people don’t like to take responsibility or ownership at work. They often say “we thought it would be a good idea” or “we chose to do that because…” This can just diminish your authority and credibility. Take ownership.  If you do use we, be sure to be clear on whom ‘we’ are – are you the marketing team? Editing team? Finance team – Who?

Turn Messages into positive hooks.

For example…

Your Message –  “I think we all need to work more efficiently, I’ve noticed that we’re not being very smart with time”

Reframe into positive hook….

Positive Hook – “I’ve discovered some excellent techniques that will help us work more efficiently as a team and help us leave work on time”

Body language and voice

Psychologists now accept that between 60 – 90 % of your communication is nonverbal.  The problem that many of us face, when we are under pressure, in the spot light and need to communicate our very best is that we can become self-conscious, prompting stiff body language and robotic voices. So turn up your energy levels more than you think to help you avoid that stiff robot.  The best way to gain awareness and play with your energy levels is filming yourself giving a mini presentation and watching it back. How are you coming across to others?

The power pose

I love Amy Cuddy’s popular TED talk encouraging people to try power posing. By this, she means shoulders back, chest out, and imagine a piece of string attached from the top of your head to the ceiling to get yourself into a powerful position before any challenging situation – interview, networking, presentation, or meeting. Her research indicates that, by doing this for two minutes, you can increase your testosterone levels and walk into challenging situations feeling more powerful.  Many years in this industry tells me it works!

Simple, clear and personable  

Avoid jargon, you may think that you have stumbled across an impressive industry word that will really dazzle people but using this type of language puts people off.  Keep it human!

Be present, listen and ask…

This doesn’t come naturally to many of us but it’s essential for effective communication.  In meetings, we often don’t have a lot of time but when people have the time to think and talk they often unravel ideas and resolutions. Empowering people to speak up can motivate. It’s a fundamental human need to feel heard and I’ve seen the positive effects of cultures that encourage this.

Keep it conversational

Imagine you’re in the pub telling someone.  Keep it conversational. Take the content seriously but don’t take yourself seriously. People will listen more

Walk and talk

Think about your setting. Why does it have to be in the boardroom? Do you need to be sitting down round a table? Many people dread meetings. They turn up disengaged which makes your job harder. Where else could you have a meeting? Environment can effect how you communicate and the outcomes.  Do have a look at the evidence in Nilofer Merchant’s TED talk – Got a meeting, Take a walk?

Remember, If you look bored and serious, they will be bored. If you enjoy it, they will enjoy it too.

Speak Up & Be Heard is out now, priced £10.99. To find out more go to: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Speak-Up-Heard-Lindsay-Maclean/dp/199933650X/

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