You’ve been asking to join for months, and they finally said yes 👏
If you’ve been invited to a leadership meeting for the first time, congratulations!
You’ve earned a seat at the table and not just to take the minutes.
To make the most of this opportunity, preparation is key.
Here are some tips to ensure you add value and confidently contribute:
Before the Meeting
1. Understand the Meeting’s Purpose
• Study the agenda and documentation in advance so you understand the purpose of the meeting.
• Understand the goals. Are attendees decision-making, sharing updates, brainstorming, or problem-solving?
• Identify how your unique perspective aligns with the purpose.
2. Know the Key Players
• Research the attendees: their roles, priorities, and recent projects.
• Consider how their areas of responsibility intersect with yours.
3. Prepare Relevant Insights
• Use your unique knowledge of workflows, processes, relationships, or organisational pain points to identify insights that leaders may not see.
• Bring data or examples that back your observations. For instance, if the meeting involves resource allocation, share things you’ve noticed about team capacity or bottlenecks.
4. Anticipate Questions
• Think about the topics being discussed and what questions may arise.
• Prepare answers or additional information that could be helpful.
5. Practice Your Points
• Outline one or two key points you’d like to contribute and rehearse how you’ll articulate them clearly and concisely.
During the Meeting
1. Be Present
• Listen actively and take detailed notes, particularly around what your executive has agreed to do, to ensure they are delivering on time.
• Observe body language and tone to understand the dynamics in the room.
2. Speak with Intention
• Choose your moments wisely – don’t speak for the sake of it.
• When you do speak, ensure your contributions are concise, solution-focused, and aligned with the meeting’s goals.
3. Ask Smart Questions
• If you’re unsure about a decision or process, ask clarifying questions that demonstrate your engagement. For example, “Have we considered how this change will affect team productivity?”
4. Offer a Unique Perspective
• Share insights based on your broad view of the organisation.
• For example, if a new initiative is being discussed, you might say, “From what I’ve observed in the team, this might need additional support to roll out effectively.”
5. Stay Professional
• Avoid interrupting and respect the meeting’s flow.
• Be confident
After the Meeting
Follow Up on Actions
– If you’ve been assigned tasks, prioritise them and communicate timelines.
• Track outcomes to share updates at future meetings.
– Share observations with your executive.
– Calendar follow up tasks for your executive. And hold other team members to account if their tasks affect your executive’s timelines.
Your contributions will make a significant impact. Good luck, believe in yourself, you’ve got this!
