3 (+1) Present-Day Meeting Rules
"When it comes to meetings, though, let’s agree on three things: be present, be on time and be good."
That's the sign-off from an article, attributed to "anonymous", among last week's London's Times supplement special on Meetings. Clickbaitingly entitled, Do Gen Z just not understand work meeting etiquette?
Much of the accompanying pieces spent their own paras aplenty bemoaning the attitude to meetings for this latest cohort to enter the workplace. Be in little doubt; specifically their incredibly poor attitude to them.
As in, they are "lax about time-keeping, don’t step up ... and hate being asked direct questions".
This collection seems inspired (triggered?) by a missive to all hands from America's most powerful bankster, JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon, Sample rage;
“I see people in meetings all the time who are getting notifications and personal texts or who are reading emails. This has to stop. It’s disrespectful. It wastes time.”
Maybe there's some level of Sales insulation. As I'm yet to encounter the general or generational insolence recounted at length there. Although the rush to fact-check through Professor Google, now more usurped by your present day AI bot of choice, can feel strong.
If someone, anyone, falls short, they are told. Then and there. Or one-to-one after that first (make that final) offence. Needn't be nastily. Firm but polite is fine.
Perhaps one key difference is that when conducting a forum involving buyers, it is typically expected for all there to speak. The norms include knowing anyone can be called upon for opinion, explanation or question at any time. The skilled seller knows this, and taps into it.
With internal gatherings of salesteam members, woe betide any that don't treat the meeting with the respect it requires.
Yes, there's the modern-day version of 'phone-stacking'; rules preventing the multi-task distraction when you ought be fully engaged. Engagement tricks that keep everyone on-side, primed and focused. And the actual art and science of proper meeting management, the crafting and deployment of which are sorely lacking across commerce.
I was gently given wonderful permission by a senior tech manager when in my first cubrep role.
"When you're invited to a meeting, you are expected to contribute. Never be afraid to".
Perhaps Gen Z need to be availed of such guidance today.
Link this with the opening quote of this post and you've a recipe for winning meetings - in-person and video - that can form the bedrock of yardsticks for a successful sales code of practice for all those within your endeavours.