Before you go into a meeting with a customer or employee, consider the following:
- Go in disconnected to your emotions. Be objective right from the start and try and obtain a positive outcome without concentrating on the communication techniques of the other people in the meeting.
- Make a plan. Plan what you would like to achieve in the meeting, send an Agenda so that the attendees will know what to expect. Allow twice as much time as you think it would take for the meeting.
- Ask lots of questions and listen. Don't get caught up in the drama. Try and ascertain the facts.
- Give everyone equal access to your time. Ensure that you treat everyone fairly with your time, even those trouble makers.
- Set a course for the discussion and consistently follow it. It is a good idea to set an Agenda and send it before the meeting so that all attendees know what will be covered in the meeting.
