Do you find yourself shut out of the conversation on too many conference calls? Do you find your mind convincing you to keep quiet, telling you that people are not interested in hearing your ideas, and it's not worth the risk of looking stupid? Then you need to adopt the 7 Minute Rule.
The 7 Minute Rule says, “In the first 7 minutes of a meeting, I will say something.” That’s it. Following that one rule will increase your influence and engagement, especially in group meetings held over the phone. Let me explain.
In any meeting with, say, more than five people of roughly equivalent seniority, each meeting participant creates a mental picture of who the “players” in the discussion are. This is especially true when we only have voices on a conference call as the input. I may not even remember exactly who is on the call and who isn’t, but those that speak up in the first few minutes get registered in my mind as being actively engaged. My unconscious is now attuned to their voice and will be listening for it.
Speaking or not speaking at the outset of the meeting will also have a significant impact on how you feel. For every ten minutes that goes by in which you say nothing, the threshold at which your mind will finally decide it’s worth the risk for you to speak, goes up. After not saying anything for thirty minutes or so, you begin to believe that only the most earth-shaking insight is worth mentioning.
Certainly not every type of meeting will be a good opportunity to experiment with this. Make a practice of noticing the unspoken rules and dynamics of meetings you attend, so you'll be prepared when the time is right.
How To Take Action:
A day or two before the meeting, put aside ten minutes to ask yourself a few questions; this prepares your mind to engage in the meeting. Here are some suggestions to get you started:
- What perspective can I contribute to this meeting? (Remembering that at the very least no one else is you - so no one can else can bring your perspective.)
- What learning do I need to leave this meeting with?
- What do I need to accomplish in attending this meeting?
In the first 7 minutes of the meeting SAY SOMETHING. Say it clearly, concisely, and appropriately paced. For example, perhaps your answer to what you need to accomplish is to build relationships with some of those on the call. So, you might say, “Hi everyone, this is Sai in Bangalore, I agree with what Susan just said, we also find our new recruits need…” Perhaps not an earth-shaking contribution, but it’s useful information for the other attendees, and now they have mentally noted that you are going to be a “player” in this conversation.
Find some low-stakes meetings to begin trying this out, and the next time your mind offers you advice to keep quiet, just say to it “Thank you mind!” Then unmute your phone and start speaking!
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