By Olga Smith
Speaking in a business meeting requires certain skills. There are principles and techniques to follow for a meeting to be effective, successful, and pleasant.
I have been to a number of the most boring and time-wasting meetings. Nothing was achieved or finalized. People just talked purposelessly for ages, trying to show off, interrupting each other, filling a short silence with empty words and silly jokes.
How can you add value to a meeting? What can you say and how could you say it to be heard? How can you stop others from deviating from the meeting agenda?
First, let's discuss the principles upon which speaking in any meeting depends.
1. Time is money
To keep to a meeting time, have an agenda and write down your key ideas prior to the meeting. If others deviate from the meeting agenda, point out gently that you need to stick to this particular agenda.
2. It is not personal it's business
Based on that, business meetings need to be about business and not about emotions.
The intonation should be neutral.
3. Two brains are better than one
Be a good listener and make notes of other people's ideas if you want to build on them. There is a saying: when you speak you do not learn anything, but when you listen, you do.
4. Clarity and conciseness
When you speak in a meeting, make sure your speech is clear. Bear in mind that people might struggle to hear you if you speak with a strong accent.
Stress keywords. It will make it easier for others to get your ideas.
Speak with pauses, do not say all your ideas in one breath. When people listen to us, often their listening speed is slower than our speaking speed particularly if you speak too fast, it is quite hard to listen to someone to speaks in paragraphs without any pauses. Say less with more pauses, rather than too much, and very quickly.
Our elocution courses will help you master the necessary speech skills to be successful in any meeting.