Success Advice

5 Simple Ways to Own The Room Even If You’re Less Experienced

Published

8 years ago

Jun 13, 2016

I’ll be honest, I have never sold a business I started for more than $10 million. But, I recently walked into a meeting with a group of six entrepreneurs, and at least three of them had already done it. Two of the other people in attendance were wildly successful creators.

The sixth member of the group was a business peer – and I felt most at ease with him being there. I was invited to lead the meeting based on my business and legal expertise, and generally speaking, I felt a little out of my league.

The insecure thoughts started rolling through my mind. I’ve been in this situation countless times, so I flipped the switch and went to work. Unfortunately, I’ve seen many others fall flat at the opening. So how do you own a room when you’re less experienced or less qualified than everyone else?

Here are 5 ways to own the room no matter what:

1. Make everyone feel comfortable, including yourself

If you’ve ever heard a great speaker, chances are you heard them open with a humorous or meaningful story. Stories bring us together and they highlight our collective need to participate. One of the first things you can (and should) do when you walk into a room to lead a meeting is make everyone feel comfortable. Equally important is making yourself feel comfortable.

Depending on the context, start with a story. Something simple that breaks the ice, or something deeper and more meaningful, if the attendees can benefit from the analogy you’ll inevitably make. And make sure the topic is easily within mental reach – no note cards necessary. By breaking the ice with a story, you’ll automatically feel more comfortable and you’ll also give everyone in the room a reason to relax.

“What we say is important… for in most cases the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” -Jim Beggs

2. Start, proceed, and end strong

In filmmaking and in music, we are typically led down a path of increased tension towards a crescendo, which then tapers off into a relaxed exit. In business meetings, you need to do the opposite. You need to start strong, proceed strong, and end strong. Each beat of a meeting needs to have meaningful impact on the purpose of the meeting. If not, your attendees will become disinterested, bored, and possibly even angry.

Prepare for a meeting by viewing it in three segments; your opening, the middle, and the closing. Each segment needs to propel the purpose of the meeting forward. When you structure your meeting this way, you also communicate confidence and control, as you know exactly where you’re going from start to finish.

3. Involve the experts

One of the easiest ways to enhance your own credibility is to establish non-obvious rapport with other experts in the room. This particular skill might take some time to develop, but it’s worth its weight in gold once you’ve mastered it.

I’m not a tax expert, so if there’s ever a meeting I’m running and a tax expert is in attendance, I’ll intentionally question something I already know by asking the tax expert to confirm that my perspective is correct.

Sure, this tactic can backfire if you ask open-ended questions which invite a narrative by the “expert,” but if you narrow the scope of your interaction primarily to reinforce what you’ve already said, you’ll be viewed as having a broader base of knowledge – with enough confidence to ask someone else for input. You’ll also gain positive nods from the other experts in the room, enhancing nonverbal support for your leadership throughout the room.

4. Respect time

One of the absolute worst things you can do when leading a room is wasting or controlling everyone’s time. If the meeting was scheduled for one hour, don’t go a minute longer – unless you’re specifically requested to do so. There’s no quicker way to destroy your credibility than proving that you’re not capable of leading within the constraints of the schedule.

I don’t know how many times I’ve been in meetings that were finished in half the time scheduled, but the person leading the meeting felt compelled to “take the hour.” If you scheduled an hour, but only need twenty minutes, stop at twenty minutes. If you scheduled twenty minutes, but needed an hour, reschedule or add another meeting to the schedule.

Show respect by valuing time. Your room will respect you. This technique also has an ancillary benefit – It gets you in the mode of allocating time properly. The more you work within time constraints, the less they become constraints.

“There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.” –Dale Carnegie

5. Don’t monologue

The greatest communicators in the world converse, even when they’re the only one talking. This happens on a few levels and with a handful of techniques. Engaging the audience, even in a small meeting, happens by asking questions, making gestures, and evoking emotions. At the end of the day, you don’t want people in your meeting thinking, “when is this person going to shut up?”

Rather, you want them engaged and focused because they want to hear what you have to say. Make people feel like they’re participating in a conversation and they’ll eat up every word you say.

What are some tips you have used to own the room in a meeting or presentation? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

Up Next

The One Solution For Procrastination You Never Heard Of

Don't Miss

7 Habits Millionaires Have Adopted For Financial Success

Brock Shinen

Brock Shinen has been guiding entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, and creators for more than 13 years as an attorney, trainer, and strategic advisor. His passion is to see people and businesses transform by implementing smart, adaptable thinking leading towards economic and personal success. He is also the author of the Amazon #1 Bestseller, “Crush The Stops: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Finishing Things.” You can also visit his website.

6 Comments

Success Advice

Wealth Lessons Everyone Should Hear for Every Stage of Your Life

Do you have the courage to rewrite your story?

Published

13 hours ago

Apr 19, 2024

Bart Zandbergen

Do you see what I see? Likely not, as we each see ourselves through the lens of our own story. (more…)

Success Advice

How to Choose the Best Affiliate Programs for Your Blog

If you follow these steps, you can create an affiliate marketing plan that makes money, fits well with your content, and connects with your readers

Published

1 week ago

Apr 10, 2024

Addicted2Success Editor

how to choose the best affiliate programs for your blog

Picking the right affiliate programs for your blog is really important. It can make a big difference in how much money you can make and how much your readers get out of your blog. With so many choices out there, deciding which ones to go with can be tricky.

This guide is here to make it easier for you. It will give you clear steps and helpful tips to choose affiliate programs that fit well with what your blog is about, what your readers like, and what you stand for.

For more articles on this theme, please head over to this blog https://blog.partners1xbet.com/.

Understanding Affiliate Marketing

Before you start picking affiliate programs, it’s important to really understand what affiliate marketing is and how it works.

Basically, affiliate marketing is when you promote a product or service on your blog, and then you get paid a little bit every time someone buys something or does something because you recommended it.

It’s great for both the person selling the product and the blogger, because the seller gets more sales with low risk, and the blogger can make money from their blog.

How to Choose the Right Affiliate Programs for Your Blog

1. Assess Your Niche and Audience

The key to doing well in affiliate marketing starts with really knowing what your blog is about and who reads it. Consider the following:

Your blog’s content: What topics do you cover? Ensure the products or services you promote are relevant.
Your audience’s interests and needs: What solutions are they seeking? Choose affiliate programs that offer products or services that solve their problems or enhance their lives.

2. Research Potential Affiliate Programs

Once you know what your blog is about and what your readers want, start looking for affiliate programs. Choose ones that are well-known for good products, great customer service, and helpful support for affiliates. Resources to find these programs include:

Affiliate networks like ShareASale, Commission Junction, and ClickBank.
Direct searches for “[Your Niche] affiliate programs” in search engines.
Recommendations from other bloggers in your niche.

3. Evaluate the Commission Structure

The commission structure is a critical factor to consider. Look for programs that offer competitive rates that make your efforts worthwhile. Consider:

The percentage of commission per sale.
Whether the program offers a flat rate per action (e.g., per sign-up).
The cookie duration, which affects how long after a click you can earn commissions on sales.

4. Consider the Program’s Reputation and Sureness

Join affiliate programs with a solid reputation for quality and sureness. This not only ensures that you’re promoting good products but also that you’ll be paid on time. You can:

Read reviews from other affiliates.
Check the program’s history and background.
Look for any complaints or issues reported online.

5. Analyze the Support and Resources Offered

A good affiliate program gives you things like ads to use, training on their products, and helpful managers. Having access to these resources can really help you do a better job at promoting their products.

6. Understand the Terms and Conditions

Before signing up, thoroughly review the program’s terms and conditions. Pay close attention to:

Payment thresholds and methods.
Any restrictions on how you can promote their products.
The program’s policy on affiliate marketing on social media platforms.

7. Test the Product or Service

If possible, test the product or service before promoting it. This firsthand experience allows you to offer genuine charge and build trust with your audience.

8. Look for Recurring Commission Opportunities

Some affiliate programs pay you again and again for subscriptions or services that charge fees regularly. These can provide a more stable income compared to one-time sales commissions.

Implementing Your Choice

After choosing the best affiliate programs, the next step is to smoothly include your affiliate marketing in your content plan. This includes:

Creating valuable content that naturally incorporates affiliate links.
Disclosing your affiliate affairs transparently to maintain trust with your audience.
Tracking your results to understand what works best for your audience and adjusting your strategy accordingly.

Picking the best affiliate programs for your blog involves careful planning, research, and making sure they match what your audience likes and needs.

If you follow these steps, you can create an affiliate marketing plan that makes money, fits well with your content, and connects with your readers.

The real key to doing well with affiliate marketing isn’t just about the products you talk about, but also how much your audience trusts and values your advice.

With enough time, patience, and hard work, your blog can grow into a successful space that earns a good amount of affiliate money and helps your readers choose the right products.

Success Advice

The Power of Ethical Leadership: How Integrity Drives Success

By leading with integrity and ethics, leaders create an environment where employees feel excited to come to work

Published

2 weeks ago

Apr 3, 2024

Giovanni Gallo

What differentiates a positive organizational culture that enjoys a clean reputation and long-term success from a toxic culture drowning in scandals, mistrust, and legal fines? (more…)

Success Advice

10 Landing Page Hacks Experts Are Using to Generate Leads

Crafting a landing page that converts is both an art and a science

Published

3 weeks ago

Mar 28, 2024

Lisian Ajroni

If you are in the online marketing world, you know the importance of a high-quality landing page. It’s like a secret sauce that can turn a casual user into a solid lead. I will walk you through ten great tips that have worked wonders for me and could do the same for you in creating landing pages that generate leads. (more…)