The #1 Mistake Introverted VP’s Make in Meetings

Hello partner, Ephraim Schachter here from csuiteaccelerator.com.

And today I want to talk to you talk about The #1 Mistake Introverted VPs make in meetings – that hurts their visibility in the near term, and damages their long-term C-Suite prospects.

I was on a live coaching session – We do them weekly in CSuite Accelerator – and one of my clients was discussing some feedback he’d received from his boss – the CEO – who was upset that my client been silent in a pretty high-profile meeting.

My client – let’s call him Joe – is a really thoughtful, analytical, detail-oriented guy. He weighs in when he thinks he has something valuable to contribute. He doesn’t just talk to hear himself speak.

So, Joe bristled when he got the feedback.
“I’m not going to be one of those ‘chest-pounding gorillas,’ on the SMT,” he told me.

He was adamant. And I respected him for it.

Let’s get underneath this.

I’ve worked with a lot of introverts over almost two decades of executive coaching.

You can boil down to 3 main reasons WHY many introverts (and some extroverts) aren’t weighing in: – see which resonate for you:

1. You don’t have an opinion yet.
2. You have an opinion but think it’s already been shared.
3. You have an opinion, it hasn’t already been shared, but don’t feel its safe to share, because of the forum or audience

But, it did beg the question: is that correct: when you’re a senior VP, in a high level meeting, is it okay to not weigh in?

Sorry, Joe, but the answer’s, “No.” If you want to be executive material, you have to weigh in!

Executives don’t start sharing their point of view when someone promotes them into the C-Suite. They got their C-Suite promotion because they were comfortable jumping into the fray and trying to influence the direction and outcomes of the group.

And not doing it is the #1 Mistake Introverted VPs make in meetings or group settings … if, what they want is to move up.

Because – simply put – when you don’t weigh in, you can’t build executive profile. No executive profile, no C-Suite promotion.
But, when you know how to do it and you consistently do it, people can know and admire you and your abilities, you can avoid this mistake and get C-Suite-Ready.

So WHAT are you supposed to do?

1. Instead of remaining quiet if you don’t have an opinion yet …

-Facilitate the discussion. Here’s how:
-ask questions, share thinking so far, move group to a decision

1. Instead of feeling preempted when you have an opinion but think it’s already been shared …

– Sharpen the image of the picture that’s been presented: Here’s how:
– frame it your way, pointing to why you think its important (the what, how and the why). Transparencies in grade school.

1. Instead of playing it safe when you have an opinion that hasn’t already been shared, but don’t feel its safe to share …

– Run upfront reconnaissance.
-By that I mean if you’re going into a meeting with a senior forum or audience, do a stakeholder analysis: plan ahead for what the participants’ interests are, so that you can speak to yours’ within safe parameters

– We take pretty deep dives in how to up your bearing and navigate your organization in CSuite Accelerator.

If you do these three things consistently:
– You will influence the direction and outcomes of the group
– People will know and admire you; and
– You’ll be seen as ready for promotion to the C-Suite

So what I want to know is, when was the last time you could have weighed in during a key meeting and what you’d do differently in light of what we talked about here? Leave me a comment.

I enjoyed making this video for you; I hope it’s been useful. If you like it, share it with your colleagues or someone else you believe might benefit.

If you want to learn more, take our “C-Suite Roadblock Audit,” which will help you identify mistakes you might be making right now that could be hurting your CSuite prospects. Alternatively, if you’d like to have a complimentary 15-minute call with me feel free to reach out for a 15-minute Strategy Session.

Thanks so much and I’ll see you soon.

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