Collisions on the road can have deadly consequences. Verbal collisions in a meeting may not cause the same damage, but they can put a serious damper on your career prospects. Are these productivity boosters hurting your company? Here’s how to keep your meeting on track while making sure everyone gets their say.
Make a Good Introduction
Start the meeting by introducing everyone who’s in attendance. This cuts down on time wasted by people introducing themselves to each other. Make the introductions brief, and then give a brief outline of what you will cover in the meeting. Use a printed outline, and stick to it.
Set the Tone
Tell everyone that you plan to keep the meeting brief and focused. Lay out the main points you want to cover. Inform the attendees that they will each get a limited amount of time to talk.
Cut Out Cross-Chatter
Don’t let meetings descend into the chaos of cross-chatter. Cross-chatter happens when two or more people in a meeting start their own conversation about an unrelated matter. Some cross-chatter is inevitable in a meeting where people already know each other, but too much can become distracting. When it does, say, “Let’s focus on the meeting” or “Where were we?” to get everyone back on the subject.
Give Everyone a Chance to Talk
Some people dominate meetings by talking over others, interrupting, and talking loudly. Others never share a word. You can bring balance to your meeting by steering people back to the subject with a reminder statement like, “That’s a great idea, but let’s talk about it another time,” or “Sorry to interrupt, but do you know how we might implement that idea?”
Improve Your Verbal Skills
One way to master meeting communication is to work on your speaking ability. How well can you convey your thoughts? Here are some tips for speaking with confidence.
• Take a breath before you speak. Next time you’re in a discussion, listen attentively. Slow down. Take a deep breath before you answer. You’ll avoid interrupting and give yourself time to come up with a constructive response.
• Let some things go. Do you have to respond to every challenge or question raised by another person? In some situations, it’s best to just let the subject drop. Will a response further anyone’s understanding, or is it just your chance to prove you’re right? If you must respond or correct the person, do it privately after the meeting ends.
• Reduce verbal pauses. Verbal pauses are words like um, uh, you know, or so. As personal growth expert Steve Pavlina says, “Verbal pauses are distracting in communication. They can make you sound less intelligent and clear. They muddle your message.” Get rid of these communication blockers.
Avoid Meeting Disasters
Verbal collisions don’t have to ruin your meetings. You can learn the techniques that make your meetings more focused and productive than ever. Contact MeetingResult to learn about our software, training resources, and meeting effectiveness evaluations.
