09 Jun Overcoming Fear and Anxiety for Important Meetings

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 73% of people have glossophobia or fear of public speaking. Speaking up during a meeting or conference call is among the top 20 workplace anxieties that trigger most professionals. Some other workplace anxieties include making presentations, asking questions, and meeting a chief executive officer (CEO) in a hallway or for a meeting.  

Interacting with a top-managerial professional, such as a CEO or chief financial officer (CFO), can be intimidating, especially considering their influential personality and dominant role in an organization. It is entirely okay to feel anxious even when you’re at the same level. Like any employee, C-suite professionals feel the same pressure during an executive meeting, mainly because of the business agenda or fear of failing to crack the deal. 

There are plenty of ways that help you overcome your anxiety and stress, including preparation, knowing your strength, and forming an effective marketing communication strategy. Read below to learn some effective tricks and tips that will help you stay confident and meet your target during your upcoming executive meetings. 

Tips for overcoming meeting anxiety 

Before the meeting 

1. Preparation is the key to winning 

Preparing ahead of the meeting makes you more confident and helps you figure out things or data missing from your marketing communication strategy or sales pitch. The goal is to come to the table prepared and informed, as this shows greater interest and a deeper understanding of the project or business. 

2. Deal with pre-meeting jitters

Pre-meeting jitters can be emotional, cognitive, and physical. To get over them, do breathwork, walk medication, practice smeathing (smile + heavy breathing) or talk to your colleagues. 

3. Do your homework

Don’t rely on your team or subordinates for the research work. Find information that you find is relevant for your pitch. Remember, you’re in the top-managerial position, meaning you should speak numbers and give important information that makes you stand out among your competitors. 

During the meeting 

1. First impressions are everything 

Believe it or not, it takes 1/10 of a second to determine traits like trustworthiness when meeting someone for the first time; that’s how important your first impression is. Make sure to add a strong handshake and a gentle smile while pitching your sales proposal for successful lead acquisition.  

2. Talk about the agenda

When two top-managerial professionals get together for an executive meeting, there must be a strong agenda. You should start with the agenda and build your executive presentation around it. This helps you save time and eliminates things that are irrelevant to you both.

3. Use slide decks, printouts, and visual aids

Ask your subordinates to prepare visuals of your idea; this could be a glimpse of your promotional strategy or a product structure. You can share examples of social media posts, infographics, or printouts that show the in-depth research of your marketing communications strategy to the other C-level executive. 

After the meeting 

1. Email follow-ups can never go out of style 

You can send over meeting notes, additional questions, or documents in your follow-up meeting or have your assistant or subordinate do the job for you. The main reason why sending follow-up emails is important is to continue building that professional relationship to convert it into a successful sales lead. 

2. Review your performance 

Despite your role in an organization, take some time to review and reflect upon the meeting you held on your company’s behalf. Acknowledge what worked best for you and how effortlessly you deal with a question and address areas that need improvement. 

3. Work on the next steps 

You may have jotted down some points for your team to work on during the meeting. Seat with your team and discuss the comments that the fellow executive shared. The more you get involved in the process, the more you become confident in the following C-level communication, helping you get over your anxiety and gear for important meetings.  

To learn more such tips and tricks for successful lead acquisition, visit Linked Strategies.