You're navigating a team meeting as a social media manager. How can you assert yourself effectively?

Meetings can be the most time-wasting activity if not conducted properly. In our organization, we follow strict rules. 1) The goal of the meeting has to be written on the board before all members arrive. 2) Everyone has to be on time and the meeting should be finished within time. 3) All the MOM has to be sent in 1 hour, therefore the person doing the meeting has to pre-write the mail. Once all points are agreed upon, he edits the mail and sends it to all concerned members. 4) To increase the open dialogue and active listening. We practice - if anyone who wants to add has to come in front and deliver his pitch. He should always have data confirming his pitch. 5) All the feedback and solutions are given one to one.

Listen Actively Engage: Pay attention to what others are saying and ask clarifying questions. Respect: Show respect for different perspectives and opinions. Solutions: Rather than just identifying problems, propose solutions or strategies. Expertise: Leverage your knowledge of social media to provide valuable insights.

When leading a team meeting, it's essential to communicate your ideas clearly and confidently. Use concise language and avoid jargon. Be specific about your goals and expectations, and provide concrete examples to illustrate your points. Speaking clearly demonstrates your knowledge and expertise, and it helps to establish your authority as the social media manager.

While it's important to assert yourself, it's equally important to listen actively to your team members. Pay attention to their ideas and concerns, and ask clarifying questions when necessary. Show respect for their perspectives, even if you disagree. By listening actively, you can build trust and collaboration within your team, and you may gain valuable insights that can improve your social media strategy.

Good planning demonstrates that you care about the success of the conversation. Agendas that are well thought out set the tone at the outset of the conversation and allow the subjects to flow from one into the next. As a facilitator, I make sure to jump in with some ice breaker conversation and small talk, so the call starts out with high energy. Then its about outlining what's going to happen, and getting everyone's voices heard. Someone needs to capture notes to that follow ups can happen. If you care, you will take it seriously, which includes being organized.

Having the 'solution' isn't always the easiest, especially when you're hearing the problem for the first time at that meeting. With active listening and hearing about the issue, you can start offering approaches from your experience that may resolve the issue. If you don't have an idea, guiding the team to brainstorm ideas for solutions will help the meeting stay productive and minimize how long you're stalled on the issue.

Every interaction is a two way street. Either both parties come away feeling like they made a new advocate, or one side get the attention and the other side is unaddressed. Take the moment to ask, "what are you working on?" or "what can I help you promote?" is going to leave a lasting impression of partnership that will help you get answered phone calls and emails.