How to Lead in a Meeting When Youre Not the Leader

How to Lead in a Meeting When Youre Not the LeaderHow to Lead in a Meeting When Youre Not the LeaderIf you view meetings as a necessary evil to suffer through, you might be missing out on the ideal setting to showcase your leadership skills.As Luann Pendy, vice president of global quality at Medtronic explains, Meetings are your greatest opportunity to be visible and show your organization what you bring to the table. Pendy should know. She oversees quality operations and is charged with ensuring that medical devices for patients worldwide are of the highest quality and reliability. Meetings are how we get work done, she continues. But shes leid always the one calling the shots. I spend most of my time participating in meetings rather than leading meetings. I make it my objective to be a good meeting participant because then leaders want me to come to their meetings to help them.You see, to be recognized as an up-and-coming leader, youll need to provide evidence that youre capable of delivering much more than your job description asks for. As Pendy puts it, You can use your time in meetings to show your effectiveness, your intelligence, and your leadership skills. Its hard to showcase that potential when youre sitting at a workstation, head down, doing your job.Speaking up and contributing in meetings can be your best opportunity to shift others perception of you from tactician to strategist, from task achiever to change-agent, and from doer to leader. With your teammates, management, and occasionally, key senior leaders in the room, meetings are a tailor-made platform for you to shape how others in your organization perceive you.To take advantage of that opportunity, here are four of Pendys top tips for how to lead in meetings, even when youre not the meeting leader.1. Know Your RolePrior to the meeting, study the agenda and understand your role in the conference. Pendy recommends considering several key questions, like Why were you invited to the meeting? How does the leader want you to participate? What is the purpose of the meeting? What is expected of you? Then, deliver beyond those expectations. Its very important to make sure that you fulfill the role thats expected of you, she adds.For example, are you there to give a status update from your part of the business? Dont just say, Things are going well, when you can bring facts and data to make your point with greater authority. Instead, say, Customer satisfaction is up 3% over last month, and give your analysis of why. Or if youre coming in as an outside expert (e.g., as a marketing specialist attending an engineering meeting), try to bring a unique perspective, such as being the customers champion. If you dont know your role, ask. At the very least, youll earn points for caring.2. Speak UpSeveral years ago, Pendy received feedback that she welches perceived as hard to read and quiet in meetings, and, as a result, people found it difficult to work with her. These comments were eye-o pening for Pendy. Id go the meetings and be very courteous and respectful, Pendy explains. I was listening to what everyone was saying, processing it, and learning, she said. By doing that, however, some co-workers felt that she wasnt engaged or interested in what was going on. So I changed, she recounts. She started speaking up and immediately started receiving more positive feedback. Employees said, Thanks for supporting me. My peers said, Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your ideas. And the management said, Thanks for leading. Rather than wait for permission or an invitation to speak up, come prepared with the expectation that you will contribute. Brainstorm at least three talking points in advance, and challenge yourself to bring up each point during the meeting. It becomes harder to break into the conversation as a meeting progresses, so speak up early on to establish your voice in the room.And if you dont have suggestions that add value to the conversation? Speaking up to advocate for a co-workers point of view or asking a well thought-out question can go just as far.3. Find Meeting MentorsPendy suggests finding a role model who navigates meetings well. Find someone within your organization who is very savvy with corporate etiquette and successful at leading and participating in meetings. Observe them to see how their behavior contributes to their success, she offers. Youll learn a lot about your organizations culture and etiquette.For example, figure out how many questions and comments are considered appropriate, and whats considered over the top. In some corporate cultures, questions are better received outside of the meeting, and if youre working against that etiquette, youll find it difficult to succeed. Or, for example, lets say you see a more efficient way for a project timeline to be structured. It helps to know if meeting etiquette dictates that the change be made by group consensus then and there, or if you probably shouldnt take up meeting time deliberating an issue that could be quickly handled in a private conversation. By paying close attention to the unwritten and unspoken rules of meeting etiquette, you can lead effectively while avoiding missteps that could damage your reputation.4. Be PresentIf you were included on the meeting invite, youre expected to be there to contribute. An important part of that is to sit at the table. Oftentimes, I see junior employees come into a room where theres a big, long conference table and try to find the chair in the corner away from the table, said Pendy. That doesnt come across as being positive, confident, engaged, and enthused. The way to get a seat at the table is to show up on time or early so theres an open seat.According to Pendy, your posture is important, too. Put your elbows on the table- something your mother taught you never ever to do at dinner, she recommends. Surprised? When youre in a business meeting, if youre leaning forward and youre putting your elbows on th e table, it tells the group youre engaged, interested, and have something to contribute.Harvard geschftsleben School associate professor Amy Cuddys TED Talk has gathered over 16 million views, popularizing the power pose- the Wonder Woman stance that boosts self-confidence while increasing others perception of your authority. According to Cuddy, stand up to speak if possible, with feet comfortably apart, shoulders back, chin up, and expansive arms, so that your body language adds credibility to your message. It works when seated, too sitting up straight with arms out increases the space you take up, which is a demonstration of power. Finally, dont leave the meeting without volunteering to lead something or take on an action item. Youll guarantee yourself a spot on the agenda in the next meeting.Photo of meeting courtesy of Shutterstock.