At the beginning of every Meeting with new people (be they clients, advisors, auditors, whatever) there is a ritual that takes place without fail, a ritual that you need to ensure you excel at. It’s called the Business Card Dance.
The preparations for this need to happen before the meeting. Firstly, you need to ensure that you have a business card – so, if you have recently started a new job, you need to make sure that you get some business cards printed, pronto. Secondly, you need to ensure you have the right amount of cards for the meeting – it’s always handy to have a few extra, but that doesn’t mean you should have a wodge as thick as a pack of cards. That’ll make you look too keen, and too unsure of yourself.
So, now you’re ready. Everyone has shaken hands, sat down, looked at each other a little awkwardly, and you’re about to get stuck into the meeting agenda. Now all around you, people are going to try and do the business card dance at the same time, so you need to try and get in there first. Get this done before everyone else even begins if you can - it makes you look like a leader, and the rest are just followers. Timing is everything. So go now!
Step 1 Rise to your feet, stand tall, reach into your pocket, flip your wallet and take the cards out.
Step 2 Crouch at the knees, lean forward slightly (not too much).Step 3 Here’s the tough part. Place the cards in front of each of the meeting guests. There will undoubtedly be some guests beyond your reach. Here, you need to do the ‘Business Card slide’, whereby you slide the card across the table so it stops just in front of the guest. You may need to practise this beforehand.
Step 4 Sit down calmly. By this time, others will be trying to hand out their cards and there will be a large melee of card clashing, hands wil be dropping cards, and there will be the odd forlorn look on the face of a colleague who has forgotten to bring his cards. You must try not to look too smug at this point.This Business Card Dance is a vital part of looking good at meetings, but that is just the start. Next time I will be discussing what you need to do to survive the meeting and, indeed, make yourself look good.
Next time – Meetings - Part 2 - Staying on Message
Good luck.Will T.
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Will Thurmann is the author of the ebook ‘The Kit Bag’, available now on amazon.
This post first appeared on How To Be A Survivor In The Modern Office, please read the originial post: here
