A superior of mine once told me never to waste time in a meeting. Certainly there is value in getting quickly to the point, but I later learned that was not what my boss meant.

The nudge was encouragement to make the most of every minute of access to leaders.

That struck a chord with me. No matter where you are on your career journey, there is always more to learn.

 

Squeezing all the juice out of a meeting doesn’t mean you should totally derail it with your own professional development desires, but it does mean if the purpose of your attendance is to get an answer, then you should leave with more than just that answer.

Take the opportunity to learn the thought processes and patterns of reasoning behind the answers. What were the alternative pathways? Why was one decision made over another? What were the risks, benefits, strengths or weaknesses of the options on the table? How does the work impact the short- and long-term strategies of the company?

If there isn’t time to draw out extra coaching in a meeting, make a note and revisit the topic in your next interaction. Use the time afterward to reflect, to challenge yourself and to answer your own questions. Then check them against the decisions of your leaders.

Limiting these interactions to those only above you on the pay scale is a sure way to miss important opportunities also to learn from colleagues. Showing interest in your peers and their work enhances your own development and broadens your knowledge base. It also strengthens the cross-functionality of the whole team. I suspect a long list of benefits could be made from more and better interaction with colleagues. In gaining a deeper understanding of the comprehensive work across an organization, all are able to work smarter and more effectively.

Make the most of moments beyond meetings. Be thoughtful about encounters in the parking lot, the lunch line, at the coffee pot or near the printer. Be a sponge. Be well prepared. Ask questions. 

 

Take a conference call with an objective but spend a few minutes near the end to further the conversation. Identify topics or create fictional case studies where you can get a behind-the-scenes view of how leadership or your colleagues might approach solutions. Patterns of reasoning and experiences build over time. Store them away for reference in your future encounters.

We’re often in a rush these days. Make the most of your time. Seize chances to secure knowledge and experience that will fuel your professional journey.