Sharon complained, "If I didn't have to waste so much time sitting in their useless meetings I could really show them what I can do."
Jenny countered, "You can't get out of those meetings, so why not make better use of them? That's where people see you in action, so think of those sessions as a chance to show off your strengths. Instead of coming in late and appearing distracted, aim to be one of the most productive people there."
Convinced it was worth a try, Sharon developed a plan for being a stellar attendee at each required meeting:
She'd rearrange her priorities to allow time for preparation, like reading the agenda and other materials sent out in advance. While prepping, she'd identify at least two comments or questions to contribute to the discussion. She'd ask herself, "What is the goal of this meeting? And what can I do to help get there?" Before arriving, she'd set a personal goal like, "today I will come across as calm and organized." Once the discussion began, she'd listen carefully to each speaker, taking notes to help her stay focused.
The plan worked. Meeting leaders began noticing that Sharon seemed more engaged and was adding more to the discussion. They started to count on her support, and that led to her getting better assignments. After a few months, she did get a promotion, and with it came the chance to be team leader for an exciting project.
To her surprise, once Sharon launched her plan she found other benefits as well. Her job started to feel more interesting and satisfying. She felt more connected to her colleagues. And she had fewer moments of boredom and frustration. "By trying to act engaged," she said, "I found out that it's more fun to be engaged."
The fact is that meetings represent a significant part of a professional's life. And as long as you have to spend the time, why not get the biggest possible bang for your buck?
Here are six strategies for maximizing the return on the hours you spend in conference rooms:
Sharing information. Brainstorming and solving specific problems. Establishing goals, making plans and keeping track of milestones. Creating a collective sense of purpose. Encouraging collaboration by helping people get to know each other.
The bottom line: If meetings are part of the job, complaining about them is at best a waste of time. Instead, create your own plan for getting as much as you can from the hours spent around a conference table.