One particular memory from the early days of my career stands out in my mind.
It was the first time I stepped into the role of a professional, ready to present a critical project.
At that time, I held certain perceptions that lacked grounding in reality🙄 :
✔"Everyone knows the subject; there's no need for introductions or status reviews" (not true!)
✔"They'll love my creative solutions!" (also not true! Shockingly so.) — "It's going to be a smashing success!"
Ah, the endless optimism and naivety of youth! 😅😉🤨
But reality had a different plan.
Despite my deep knowledge, detailed preparation, and profound understanding of the subject matter, I missed a key component:
The "PROMO"!
That's right—the promo, the part that should come before everything else.
It tells people what a movie is about even before they see it!
It might sound peculiar, right?✨
After all, isn't the purpose of a meeting to discuss professional ideas, brainstorm, and draw conclusions together?
Well, it's not that simple.
Let's consider a CEO meeting with the board.
Both sides bring immense expertise to the table.
👉The CEO brings professional experience, product knowledge, market insights, and strategic vision.
👉The board consists of industry professionals, investors, and seasoned market experts. They've seen successes and failures -- and know how to ask tough questions.
Here's the bottom line🧭:
Surprise doesn't work in favor of the CEO, the organization, or the business well.
Quite the opposite.
The *key* is to engage with participants in advance, ensuring that they are prepared and ready to dive into the discussion.
If you want a shared commitment – then Board members shouldn’t be introduced to your ideas during board meetings -- but rather should be given an opportunity to review it on their own time.
This principle applies to all types of meetings.
When planning a meeting, share your agenda *in advance*,
send out a preliminary presentation
and engage in one-on-one preparations with each participant -- all before the actual get together takes place.
Let's keep in mind:
The element of surprise is not always the best strategy.
Curious to know what happened to me at that meeting? It's a story you won't want to miss!😉
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