Meetings are where personal brands are built

Meetings have always been powerful venues for growing your career. So why do most people fail at leading and participating in meetings?

Our calendars are packed with too many of them so, consequently, meetings don’t get taken seriously, or we are just burned out from them. To make the most of meetings you must master the meeting mindset. Meetings are the most powerful way to build your personal brand. Commit to giving them the importance they deserve. Then, make meetings meaningful:

Prepare

Don’t just show up to a meeting, show up ready to contribute. Even 10-15 minutes of prep can make the difference between being a meeting attendee and a standout superstar. Spend a little time getting up to speed and reminding yourself of what happened in the previous session. Next, put together your brief meeting plan that includes:

• Your goal for the meeting—what do you want the outcome to be?
• Your agenda of what you want to accomplish
• A list of who you want to strengthen relationships with
• The content and materials you will use to provide your update and express your point of view, along with any interesting supplements

Be present

Most meetings we attend these days are virtual or hybrid, and that’s a giant invitation to multitask. People can’t really see us when we’re writing an email to a colleague, and it’s a way to get more stuff done, right? When you multitask, you may get to remove something else from your do-list, but you’re squandering an opportunity to impress, interact and inspire. In the long run, it’s not good time management. Instead, commit to being present and focused for the entire meeting—even when the topic is not related to your tasks or expertise. Show people you are paying attention by asking questions and entering into relevant discussions.

Be collaborative

When you are presenting your content, make it less of a soliloquy and more of a group discussion. Raise important questions. Call on others in the group for their opinions. One of the biggest mistakes people make in meetings is becoming invisible when it’s not their turn to share. When you are fully engaged, you can interact with your colleagues and show that you are a team player.

Express gratitude

Meetings allow you to publicly acknowledge others for their contributions. Don’t be stingy with praise and appreciation. Your acknowledgments go further in meetings because they happen in front of others—making them more meaningful. Leaders know the importance of acknowledging others. You want to be seen a leader, right?When expressing gratitude, be specific. Replace “Great job” with “You are so skilled at using data to make your point.”

Make your mark

Meetings provide that opportunity to showcase your authentic, differentiated brand. Don’t conform. Be yourself. That means you should avoid trite business jargon and make every part of your participation branded—what you say, how you say it, the materials you share, your interaction with others, etc. Your brand is bolstered through the consistent delivery of your unique promise of value.

Because meetings are so important and so powerful for growing your presence and your personal brand, adopt a new meeting mindset. Treat meetings as the powerful personal brand builders they are, and watch your career soar.

William Arruda is a keynote speaker, co-founder of CareerBlast.TV and co-creator of the Personal Brand Power Audit – a complimentary quiz that helps you measure the strength of personal brand.