Nail The Meeting, Nail The Promotion
The Fastest Way to a Promotion: Perform in Meetings
It’s the start of a new year, and this time, you’re serious about making it your year. You’ve set your sights on that promotion. But how do you make it happen? Sure, hard work matters, but if you’re waiting for someone to notice your effort, you could be waiting forever. Promotions don’t just happen—you have to earn them in the right moments.
Here’s my take: The fastest way to a promotion is to perform in meetings.
Not just any meetings, though—those with senior people in the room. But before you panic, let’s be clear: this isn’t about sucking up or dominating the conversation. It’s about showing that you’re someone who knows their stuff, can handle pressure, and is ready to step up. That’s performing.
The good news? You don’t need to be a natural-born public speaker to shine in these moments. It’s all about preparation, managing nerves, and knowing how to handle yourself when the spotlight is on. Let’s break it down.
1. Preparation: Master the Material, Not the Slides
When a big meeting is coming up—especially one with your boss and their senior colleagues—your first instinct might be to perfect your PowerPoint slides. Stop right there. While a polished deck is nice, it won’t get you promoted. What matters is knowing your stuff inside out.
Here’s what you need to nail:
• The exact status of your project or topic.
• Where things are going well and where they’re not.
• The real risks and opportunities on the horizon.
Don’t waste hours tweaking animations in your presentation. Instead, spend that time absorbing the material until you can talk about it without looking at notes. This isn’t about regurgitating data—it’s about showing you’re fully on top of your responsibilities and can handle the details under pressure.
2. Manage Your Nerves: Activate Calm Confidence
It’s normal to feel nervous before a big meeting. That’s your body’s fight-or-flight response kicking in—a rush of adrenaline designed to help you in emergencies. The problem? In a meeting, adrenaline doesn’t help. It makes you fidgety, sweaty, or overly tense.
To counter this, you need to engage your parasympathetic nervous system—the one that calms you down. Here’s how:
A 5-Minute Breathing Exercise
• Five minutes before the meeting, find a quiet space (yes, the bathroom works).
• Sit down, close your eyes, and focus entirely on your breathing.
• Don’t try to control it—just observe it. Inhale. Exhale. Notice the rhythm.
This simple practice grounds you. By the time you walk into the room, you’ll feel more balanced, present, and in control.
3. Plan the Meeting: Create Space to Shine
The biggest mistake people make in important meetings is trying to cram too much into the presentation. Don’t fall into this trap. Plan to use only two-thirds of the time for your presentation, leaving the rest for questions and discussion.
Why? Because it’s not the presentation that gets you promoted—it’s how you handle the interaction afterward. This is where you prove your depth of understanding, composure, and ability to think on your feet.
Here’s how to plan for this:
• Craft a clear, concise presentation that highlights key points.
• Be intentional about leaving time for questions.
• Approach the discussion phase as an opportunity, not an afterthought.
4. Responding to Questions: Where the Magic Happens
When the Q&A starts, this is your moment to show what you’re made of. Many people panic during this phase, but it’s actually your best chance to demonstrate that you’re promotion-ready.
Here’s how to handle it:
• Pause and breathe. Take a moment before answering. It shows confidence and ensures you don’t blurt out something rushed.
• Stick to the facts. Trust your preparation. If you’ve done your homework, you know the answers.
• Own the challenges. If there’s bad news, don’t sugarcoat it. Be honest about the situation and clear about what you’re doing to fix it.
• Share credit. When things are going well, highlight the team’s efforts. Leaders promote people who uplift others, not those who take all the glory.
• Take notes. Writing down actions or follow-ups shows that you’re committed to delivering.
The key here is to be composed, authentic, and solutions-focused. People aren’t looking for perfection—they’re looking for someone they can trust to handle the heat.
5. Practice Makes Progress
You don’t have to wait for a major presentation to start building this skill. Look for smaller opportunities to present in meetings, even informal ones. The more you practice handling questions and presenting confidently, the better you’ll get.
Over time, you’ll become the person others trust to deliver under pressure. That’s the kind of person who gets noticed—and promoted.
Final Thoughts
Performing in meetings isn’t just about delivering a good presentation. It’s about demonstrating that you’re capable, composed, and ready for the next level. By preparing thoroughly, managing your nerves, and embracing the discussion phase, you’ll stand out as someone who’s not just doing their job but thriving in it.
This year, make it your mission to own these moments. Each one is a stepping stone to your promotion. Start now—you’re closer than you think.