10 Ways For HR Introverts To Show Up Strong in Meetings

As an HR professional, I confess I’m an introvert. I’d much rather e-mail, or write in this blog, than attend a meeting.   I just dread them. It’s a tough place to get heard. Lots of voices compete for the floor. And if you don’t say much, you’re not viewed as leadership material.  If you’re introvert too,  sound familiar?

Now here’s the no BS reality: whether I like it or not, meetings are a part of doing business. Not only important, they are critical. Research has found that four out of five managers evaluate each other based on how they participate in a meeting, and 87% judge leadership based on how a person runs a meeting. With so much at stake, there is no choice that to advance your career you have to be able to have an impact in meetings. Here are ten quick tips to help you show up strong in meetings….

1. Plan ahead. Find out the meeting agenda ahead of time and make a mental note of two or three opinions, perspectives, questions, ideas, facts, experiences you will contribute.

2. Take the offense. Don’t let the meeting happen to you. Identify for yourself what you want to get from it. You’ll show up stronger if there’s something in it for you.

3. Plant seeds. Share your ideas one on one with important stakeholders before the meeting ever happens.

4. Arrive early. It conveys interest and enthusiasm.

5. Don’t sit on the sidelines. You’ll appear less involved in the process.

6. Sit across from the meeting facilitator. Direct eye contact will make it easier for you to be noticed and get the floor.

7. Contribute something early. It positions you as a leader vs. follower. Also, where possible put yourself on the agenda so that you have something to present at the meeting. It will force you to prepare and to have a spot where you can participate more actively.

8. Increase your talk time. One study found this was the number one determiner of influence in meetings. Look for ways to build on others’ ideas or give examples of how a point that has been made already might play out in your part of the organization or with one of your clients.

9. Use positive language. Nobody likes a critic. Instead of talking about why something won’t work, offer solutions that do work.

10. Make it a game. Keep a tally of your contributions and give yourself a reward.

Though it is a people business, not everyone in Human Resources is an extrovert. For introverts, with so much at stake, there is no choice that to advance your career you have to be able to have an impact in meetings and hopefully these suggestions will help.