Meetings are the perfect opportunity to build visibility and earn trust with decision makers who influence your career.
As the author of “Managing Up” and an executive coach to top performers at companies like Google, Amazon, and NATO for over 15 years, I’ve seen firsthand how speaking up in the right moments can position you for promotions, raises, and high-profile projects.
But not all meeting participation is created equal. You can say something that fills dead air but adds nothing to your credibility, or worse, makes you come across as unprepared or defensive.
Sounding smart in a meeting has nothing to do with using big words or buzzwords like “aligning synergies.” Authority comes from thinking clearly, seeing the bigger picture, and knowing how to move things forward.
The best communicators I’ve worked with have mastered the art of sounding smart and strategic, all without seeming like they’re trying too hard. Here are four strategies — and specific phrasing — you can steal.
1. Ask the question no one else is asking
You don’t always need to share the most groundbreaking insight to stand out. A well-placed question, delivered with a curious, thoughtful tone, can uncover a faulty assumption, get the group to slow down, or steer a chaotic conversation back on track.
Try this: Connect dots across trends, teams, or ideas others have raised. For example:
- “How does this fit with what engineering is working on?”
- “It sounds like Isaac and Ling are after the same goal. Am I reading that correctly?”
2. Subtly leverage social proof
Social proof is our psychological tendency to trust an idea more when we know others support it.
When you present a case study in a pitch meeting about how you solved an issue, for instance, you might include customer testimonials, show the logos of partners you’ve worked with, or cite stats indicating past success and buy-in.
Try this: Tactfully name-drop colleagues and leaders who are already on board with your proposal or who agree with you. This can sound like:
- “The head of product was on the same page.”
- “The client said this is exactly what they were looking for.”
3. Tap into what decision-makers care about
Link your contributions to the business priorities your leaders are filtering every idea and decision through. This includes things like cost, speed, risk, growth, or whatever else the C-Suite is scrutinizing them about.
Try this: Think back and pinpoint what the bosses you’re talking to have been mentioning a lot recently. For example:
- If the COO has been vocal about streamlining processes, say, “This is the type of efficiency we’ve been aiming for.”
- If your VP is fixated on beating out a competitor, add, “This helps us differentiate ourselves in the market.”
4. Speak to your impact with specificity
Vague updates like “the project is going well” or “we’re making progress” are forgettable. Does that mean you’re barely ahead of schedule or that you just closed the biggest deal of the quarter? Without details, it’s difficult for others to picture what you’ve accomplished.
Try this: Attach numbers to your updates to instantly make your impact more concrete. For instance:
- “We’ve shipped new features to over 10,000 customers in the last 90 days.”
- “I’m now overseeing accounts in five different territories.”
Melody Wilding, LMSW is an executive coach, human behavior professor, and author of “Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge.” Get her free training, 5 Steps to Speak Like a Senior Leader, here.
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