What do you think is the best way to get someone to do something? Ask them nicely? Offer them a reward? Be firm, rude or direct?
Each person has their own special way of communicating with people to get results. In a business setting, it’s important to remember that you must not only act professionally but also be polite in order to sway the actions towards your desired result. There have been many times where I have been in business meetings or professional settings and those who were conducting the meetings were failing miserably in conveying their thoughts or intents. People generally can understand and pick up subtleties, but it’s not very wise to rely on what you “meant” to say rather than simply conveying what you really want to say and avoiding misunderstandings.
1. Be Genuine. People can tell when you’re being fake. Most of the time. Unless you’re very good at it (being fake), then there’s a chance that the plastered grin across your face will be dissected in no time. When you walk into the meeting room, or as you’re just about to start the meeting, start with a little levity to lighten the atmosphere. But, be genuine with it. Be yourself. Don’t start off with one-liners if you’re not a jokester. It’s good to start with a pleasant “good morning”, or “hello” and a smile on your face to set the tone of the meeting and to put the attendees at ease.
2. Make Contact. Whether it’s eye-to-eye contact or through a handshake, some form of contact can make the attendees feel at ease even more and allow them to see your more tangible side.
3. Be brief. There are other things that the meeting participants need to attend to, so don’t make the mistake of thinking that your meeting is the ONLY one on their agenda for the day. Be brief, be succinct and not only are you likely to have more participation and more feedback, but you are also likely to have them attend the next meeting that you have.
Being respectful of others time and circumstances will open many doors for you to connect with the audience that you are addressing, whether it’s a speaking group or a group of your employees. Implementing these motivators can go a very long way in helping you establish a foundation of communication that can be carried on long after your meeting is over.