Secrets to Success in Meetings and Introductions

Being successful in the workplace involves more than just showing up each day. Depending on your role, you may have to attend meetings, generate new clients, and work with those from other departments on various projects. This can be very stressful if you’re not confident in your abilities or in your ability to make a great first impression. There are ways to increase your confidence so you can build solid business relationships and advance in your career.

Make a Great Impression with a Strong Handshake

A strong handshake still makes a great impression when meeting someone for the first time. While you don’t want to squeeze their hand too tightly, a solid handshake exudes confidence. Use the same handshake after the meeting is over. Another way to make a great impression after meeting a new person is by remembering their name a few hours, days, or months after your initial meeting. By repeating the person’s name while shaking their hand and looking them in the eye, you can increase your chances of remembering their name the next time you see them.

Make Conversation before a Meeting

Making conversation before a meeting is an excellent way to break the tension other people may be feeling. If you’re hosting the meeting, it will be up to you to make those invited feel welcome. Topics of conversation can include:

· Recent weather conditions

· Travel and hotel accommodations if those attending are from out of state

· Food and popular restaurants in the area

· Hobbies

· Sports

· Interesting regional vignettes you may have read about in the paper

Try to avoid controversial topics such as politics, religion, or gossip as these topics can make people feel uncomfortable. Make sure you have cold water, tea, or coffee available so everyone will be comfortable. If you’re invited to a meeting, talk with those attending and try to remain positive during this time. Avoid talking about work unless it’s appropriate. This time should be spent getting to know each other.

Make Sure All Materials for the Meeting are ready

A day or so before a meeting, make sure you have all materials ready. If you have an assistant, make sure they make plenty of copies of reports, memos, and other documents you will be referring to during the meeting. Even if you sent copies to those attending, make sure you have extras in case they arrive without them. Notepads and pens should also be supplied. If the meeting is a large one, create nametags for attendees to wear. This will help everyone remember each other’s name.

Remain Positive

Throughout the meeting, try to remain positive even if the subject matter is unpleasant. Personally attacking people, talking out of turn, or walking out of a meeting is unprofessional and is not tolerated in most office environments. While you cannot control every aspect of a meeting, you can control your own behavior. Making a good impression at a meeting or when being introduced to a person for the first time is important when building business relationships. Keeping your personal opinions about others to yourself and remaining professional at all times is the best way to behave at a meeting.

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