I met with a client the other day who wanted to meet with a VP in her organization.
However, in the next breath, she said, “but I can’t meet with him and have a conversation, I wouldn’t know what to say.” This is a common response from clients who are meeting with someone at a higher level than they are or it is the first time that they are having a conversation together.
It is understandable to feel that way because people at lower levels have a tendency to put the people above them on a pedestal. What if you just look at them as human beings instead? They do have a higher level title and they know different things than you do, but that doesn’t take away from what you know and the information that you need to share with them! Remember, they don’t have enough detail to make decisions without the information and insight that you have. Prepare for the conversation, but don’t put pressure on yourself to be perfect.
Ask yourself the following questions to prepare for the discussion:
- What do you want the person to know about the situation?
- How can you share the information in a way that they can hear it and they understand its importance of it?
- What details do you need to share that is important and impactful to the discussion?
- What do you want them to do (make a decision, help you move the situation forward, connect with someone else, or another option)?
- What does the next steps look like coming out of the meeting?
Be yourself in these conversations.
If you haven’t met them before, take a few minutes to introduce yourself, share what you do, and a bit about your experience. Then share what you want to accomplish in the conversation today so they understand what they need to do and are prepared to give you what you need.
There are two things that are important to do in these type of conversations: listen and ask questions. Listen to what the other person is saying for any insights that you can gather and use to help you move things forward. Ask any additional questions that you need clarification on to take action and to show that you heard them.
My client followed these steps and couldn’t believe how well the conversation went. Now that she has seen what is possible, she is ready to plan her next one with a different person now! There is a quote by Andrew Murphy that says, “You are confined only by the walls you build yourself.” If you are putting a wall between you and your opportunities, it is time to explore what that wall is doing for you. It may keep you safe, but it also holds you back from new possibilities! What if you took the wall down and tried things that are out of your comfort zone, but you grew and developed in a much bigger way? Would it be worth it?
You can do so much with your career and your life, please don’t hold yourself back! If you need my help to remove the wall that you have built, let me know.
Check out my new 90 Day Visibility Breakthrough Accelerator Program! Breaking down a wall is exactly what this program is meant to do! 🙂