3 Steps to Becoming More Present in Meetings

Want to get ahead at work? Pay attention in meetings! Yes, friend – it’s that easy.

Here’s a fun little exercise for you. At your next meeting, take the time to look around at your coworkers. My guess is that most of them are on their cell phones – hardly paying attention to the task at hand.

Repeat after me: put. the phone. down.

Simply by showing up and being fully present, you’ll be heads and tails above your competition for that next promotion.  

Here are three quick tips to try out at your next meeting.

Go Old School

That’s right – I want you to go analog. Grab a portfolio and your favorite writing utensil and head on out. The best part of this tip is that there is science behind the idea of actually writing down notes versus typing them. The act of writing imprints them – allowing you to actually retain the information discussed.

Check Your Devices

Many companies are now requiring their employees to “check” their devices at the door much the same way as you would your coat. Why? Because they are so distracting! Those notifications that you’ve scheduled to go off distract your brain much in the same way your email does when you hear it chime throughout the day.

My advice? Leave your phone in the office and let your assistant know where you’ll be in case of emergency. And if you just can’t bear to be without it, put it in airplane mode until the meeting is over.

Schedule Your Time Correctly

Nobody can focus on a topic when they arrive late or are stressed about getting to their next appointment on time. When scheduling meetings, be certain to allow for travel time to/from the meeting in addition to the time needed to prep and prepare any next steps after it concludes.

Incorporate these three tips and experience more success with clients and with colleagues. And bonus: Since you’ll actually know what is going on, you can start making meaningful contributions that get noticed. Boom.