The Influential Nonprofit Episode 51: Maryanne Dersch: How To Get, Lead And Follow Up In Meetings (Part 2)
You might be imagining that they are at a higher level and you are down below looking up. Put that image aside and really come in as a peer. A peer-to-peer situation where you both have assets, you both have things you need to get done and you may need each other in order to do it.
Be careful about telling yourself stuff like “it’s easier to do a meeting in person” because that way, you’ll be setting yourself up to not have good conversations if you’re on a zoom or on a phone. Your magic can show up anywhere you choose it to, don’t limit yourself.
Setting up a pre-frame when the meeting starts is a good way to put people at ease, allow yourself to show up as a leader and prevent meetings from going off the rails.
Get people talking. Put your talking points and sponsorship opportunities in the back pocket and just listen. Preframe but let them speak and try and understand how you can be a value to them. Make people feel seen and heard.
“If you show up in deference, you don’t show up as a leader… people want to work with partners, they want somebody who sees themselves as worthy.”
“All people want to be is seen and heard and if you can allow people to be seen and heard and understood, they can be a value to you and they’ll be open to what you have to say.”
“You really can release the need to say everything perfectly, to have the right response. The whole point of the listening is to be in the minute.”