JT3 | Get Noticed In Meetings

Picture this. You are in a Zoom meeting with your team members and have a point to make. You keep unmuting to get a word in but others are monopolising the conversation and you never really get a chance. And then the meeting ends with all your words of wisdom unsaid.

Or perhaps you’re in a room trying to make a point but you keep getting talked over or cut off. And maybe someone else makes the point you were trying to make and gets the credit for their brilliant suggestion. Sound familiar?

So how do we avoid such situations from happening? How do we project authority so people hear out what we have to say? How do we make everyone shut up and listen? How to Get Your Voice Heard in Meetings?

Discussion Topics: Get Noticed In Meetings

• It’s often the loudest whose words carry weight in meetings, but there are ways to get through.
• Prepare, so you can make good points.
• Look authoritative, like you’re a decision-maker, not a note-taker.
• Sound authoritative, so your words carry weight.
• Work with allies to create speaking opportunities.
• Don’t be bulldozed into silence; make a choice to speak up and soon everyone will want to hear from you.

Transcript: Get Noticed In Meetings

Picture this. You are in a Zoom meeting with your team members and have a point to make. You keep unmuting to get a word in but others are monopolising the conversation and you never really get a chance. And then the meeting ends with all your words of wisdom unsaid. Or perhaps you’re in a room trying to make a point but you keep getting talked over by this know-it-all or getting cut off by your manager or the senior person in the room. And maybe someone else makes the point you were trying to make and gets the credit for their brilliant suggestion. Does that sound familiar? So how do we avoid such situations from happening? How do we project authority so people hear out what we have to say? How do we make everyone shut up and listen?

Hi there and welcome to JobTok, My name is Amit Ray and over a 20-year career I’ve had the privilege of working in dozens of roles across a variety of companies. During this time I’ve managed or worked with literally hundreds of smart, talented people and developed a pretty good behind-the-scenes understanding of what it takes to succeed in the corporate world. Through this show, I hope to share those learnings so you can accelerate your career, land great opportunities and become a highly valued professional.

And, before we begin, a quick reminder that notes and resources related to this episode are linked in the episode summary so feel free to just listen in for now and click through later for a recap if you need one. If you have questions, you can also leave them as comments on the notes page and I’ll respond to you directly

I remember during my MBA interviews, we had this interview stage called a group discussion where you had to discuss a given topic amongst a group of around 10 MBA aspirants. And, looking back, it was fascinating how closely that session mirrored a typical corporate meeting. There were know-it-alls that monopolised the conversation in an attempt to show how much they knew on the topic. There were those trying to make a point but getting interrupted, talked over or ignored by the first group. A few tried to guide the course of the discussion to a conclusion. And then there was that one person who was so overwhelmed by need to force their way into the conversation that they just sat there silent – and probably lost their opportunity to be accepted into the program. Don’t forget this is before any of us even started their MBA, so imagine how obnoxious we all probably became after!

This might have been ok if it were only limited to a group of students, who didn’t know any better. But the unfortunate reality is that this carries forward into the corporate world as well. It’s always the loudest, most well-connected or the senior-most person who’s words carry weight and it’s their input that makes its way into the final decision. While you, the person with all the data, all the ideas, all the experience, are left out just because you weren’t obnoxious enough to cut off everyone else to make your point. But don’t worry – that’s going to change. Because all it takes is for you to make a few adjustments in how you present yourself.

• First things first, make good points. Don’t be that person who talks in circles, making a big deal about nothing or repeating the same point multiples times. If you’re getting an opportunity to speak, don’t squander it. Earn your right to speak. Make good points, ask the right questions, move the conversation forward. If there are senior stakeholders present, get to the point quickly and clearly. And how do you do that? Write them down. Keep a notebook with you and write down a few words to summarise what you want to say – and use it when the opportunity comes up. As an added bonus, this will also keep you on track in case you are cut off and need to get back to the point later.
• Next, you need to look authoritative. If you’re meeting in person, arrive early and try to secure the middle spot so you can engage with everyone, rather than picking the end seat where nobody will notice your attempts to break into the conversation. If you’re feeling extra confident, sit at the head of the table where all the decisions are made! And please, PLEASE don’t be the person who takes the extra chair along the wall. That space is for the note-takers, not for the decision-makers. If you’re meeting online, at the very least make sure you have a great internet connection. It’s really hard to demand attention from others when you keep cutting out or freezing. Also make sure you’re close to the camera so you fill up the space, rather than looking like a little blob on the bottom of the screen like a bobblehead doll nodding on a car dashboard. Ideally invest in a good camera and lighting, so you are sharp and well-lit, bursting with energy like a Youtube star, while others look dull and washed out on their badly-angled, low-res laptop cameras. For bonus points, practice talking into the camera so you are making virtual eye contact with your listeners. It’s something that Youtubers are very good at, and what makes them so effective at keeping your attention.
• You also need to sound authoritative. Speak up and articulate your words so you come in strong. Don’t mumble in a weak monotone. Volume signals confidence and leadership material when you are meeting in person and even more so on a call where body language signals are weaker. Also, speak just as much as needed and then just stop. While it might not seem like such a problem if you never get to talk at all, there is such a thing as too much talking. Leaders and authority figures stop when the point has been made. It’s the flunkies and the juniors who ramble on, trying fill the silence till someone changes the topic. How you speak is how you will be perceived.
• Finally, you need to proactively make opportunities. If you are up for it, firmly ask for a chance to speak if you aren’t getting the opportunity and you have something really insightful to add to the discussion. Even better, you could prep your manager, an ally or a friendly authority to help you out when they see you struggling in a discussion. It’s hard for anyone to refuse a request by a third person to let someone have time to make their points. And when you have the floor, and are backed up by good content, you will definitely get the time to have your say.

Summary: Get Noticed In Meetings

I know we began the conversation talking about how interruptions are a corporate-wide issue and they definitely are. But there’s no point being a martyr and just complaining about it. At the end of the day, it’s your career and perception on the line, not others’. So take it as a challenge. Don’t be bull-dozed into passive silence. Make a conscious choice to speak up and be heard.

And you CAN do it. Make good points. Look and sound like an authority. Take the help of allies. And you WILL get your shot. And another one. And another one. And suddenly, when you’ve made high-quality contributions a few times, you’ll find you are naturally invited – even expected – to contribute from the next time. And then you’re no longer the note-taker. You’re the leader.

Thanks so much for tuning in today. If you liked this episode, please leave a five-star rating and subscribe so you’re always on top of new episodes as they are released. And if you know of colleagues who have this problem, please share this episode with them. Thank you – your gesture is much appreciated!

In case you missed anything, feel free to review the show notes linked in the description and leave a comment if you have questions or feedback. Always love to hear from you!

Bye, for now, this was Amit with JobTok. I’ll see you next time!