Communication PSA: Start Every Meeting with a Perspective
I once knew a crackerjack Sales Team Lead who quickly became exasperated by her staff at a new company.
She kept getting invited to key calls, but soon she discovered an ugly gap. The “final call” meeting wasn’t a casual get-together. More often, it was just this side of a slugfest. Her staff crossed their fingers, hoping she could get past that last point or two by merging her signature know-how and charm.
The Lead threw up her hands after several bumpy meetings where getting to “Close” required something like a Jedi mind trick. Her requirement for her staff was simple: Come to every meeting with a perspective.
Setting that high bar might feel like someone just turned up the heat. You could be thinking, But I’m on the quieter side. I’m not sure I have something meaningful to say in every meeting. Don’t worry — you can still win the day.
The old way of bossing up was to dominate a conversation, even if you didn’t know the answer. In its place, you can turn to soft skills such as critical thinking, precision questioning, and deep listening to communicate well. You’ll no longer have to push through a meeting or scramble to keep up.
Suddenly, the upside is clear: When you come to every meeting with a perspective, no one can finesse you.
Let’s meet someone who learned her views — even when circumstances weren’t perfect — were essential to career success.
Your Insights Have Value
Introvert Dear had a thought-provoking article from a writer who told about feeling off-kilter at her first job. She was unsure how to behave and soon became so nervous that she rarely offered insights.
The “no comment” approach also became her go-to tactic after hours. Colleagues invited her out, but she was so concerned about what to say and how to act that she brushed them off, thinking she would figure it all out later. Unfortunately, this slow roll method didn’t yield the time and additional understanding she craved. Before long, social invitations dried up.
The stunner was her first performance review. Her boss affirmed her capabilities, but guess what they spent most of their time discussing? You’ve got it — Communication. There was no mistaking the message when her manager worried and said, “You don’t speak up enough.”
Three Ways to Bring Your Perspective
We’re discussing three communication missteps in the May series, Communication PSAs. Clamming up sometimes seems like the safe bet. However, it can accidentally give the wrong impression.
Here’s a clarification that might have changed the case study subject’s mind about chiming in: There’s a difference between speaking to be heard vs. bringing a clear-minded perspective. Think of the last time you were with a constant talker. Did they miss subtle cues, unarticulated emotions, or hidden priorities?
Those misses show why having a perspective is critical. It’s the jumping-off point for leveraging observation skills, a quality naturally quiet people have in spades. That’s why a 36⁰⁰ communication view — listening deeply, exercising solid judgment, and the capacity to summarize the issues at hand — are all marketable skills. The best solutions spring from that combination.
Bringing a perspective doesn’t mean you’re immune from slip-ups because they happen to everyone. Simply accept that your mind occasionally travels faster than your words. So, value your insights as they are, and don’t hold back.
Try these three ways to mine your depth:
1. Support yourself by brainstorming a few thoughts ahead of time. Sometimes, an agenda (even a loose one) will help you power through instead of shutting down;
2. Use emotional intelligence to deal with colorful, opinionated personalities; and
3. Be flexible and recognize even the best thinking can shift and change.
Conversations work best when you’re a participator, not a spectator. So, temper bold thinking with soft skill How tactics, such as observing and adjusting to the real time discussion. Challenge yourself, and don’t just come to every meeting with a perspective — bring your best perspective.
