How to Build a Stronger Presence in Meetings

Do the same people speak up in your meetings? Are you hesitant to share? And when you do, is your idea often seized by someone else? It’s time to take back your meetings. Here’s how to build up your presence while creating a more inclusive meeting culture. 

First, take a look at your nonverbal communication style. Albert Mehrabian, a psychology professor at UCLA, says that your credibility is judged 58% by your overall body language, 35% by your tone of voice, and only 7% by what you actually say! Be cognizant of your posture, eye contact, and the amount of physical space you take up. I was once at a board meeting where one of my fellow board members was speaking for a very long time. The only way I could get a word in edgewise would have been by shouting, which I was not going to do, so I decided to stand up, walk around behind my chair, and then speak. This worked like a charm. He stopped talking and listened intently to what I said.

Next, find a meeting ally. Female staffers in Barack Obama’s White House used a strategy called “amplification” to combat hepeating, reports The Washington Post: “When a [female White House staffer] made a key point, other women would repeat it, giving credit to its author. This forced the men in the room to recognize the contribution — and denied them the chance to claim the idea as their own." Ask a male or female coworker to do the same and actively support each other when you speak.

Become more comfortable saying "I don't know." I always thought that as a leader, I’d have to have it all figured out and be totally buttoned up, but when you say “I don’t know” and ask for input, it opens up a healthy conversation that wouldn’t have taken place if you had simply made a point and moved on.

You can also shift the culture of aggressive meeting behavior by sharing success with others. Call out a coworker’s good job at a meeting. Or, if someone mistakenly credits you for someone else’s work, correct them. Say, “Wasn’t that great? That was Jane’s idea.” Being a good role model will help influence your colleagues to follow suit.

If you’re interested in having me speak at your organization about topics just like this one, please visit my All American Speakers Bureau page and contact Maddy McPeak at maddy@aaehq.com.