3 Signs You Talk Too Much in Meetings - The Muse

3 Signs You Talk Too Much in Meetings - The Muse3 Signs You Talk Too Much in MeetingsVery few people would say meetings are exciting, efficient, and overall, a great addition to a packed workday. Yet, theyre a necessary evil in the workplace. However, theres good news And that is that you have the power to improve them by taking one small little action staying quiet. If you have a great idea, have a strong conviction, or are called upon to weigh in, then yes, speak up. But, if youre just talking to be heard and to be considered an active participant by your manager, then you have permission to zip your lips. How do you know when you should speak up and when you should sit silently? Here are three signs youre actually talking too much 1. You Repeat Your Co-workers Thoughts Without Adding AnythingIts great when your colleague says something you agree with. But, when you go on and on about how much you concur, it adds time to the meeting. Not only that, its a great way to annoy the rest of your co-workers, who probably have other important things they have to attend to.What to Do InsteadIm not suggesting you stop agreeing with your co-workers when they have a great idea. And if you have something in mind that you think would propel that thought forward, you should absolutely bring that up. However, if you just agree, feel free to acknowledge that and move on. Simply saying, Yes, thats a good point will go a long way in moving the conversation forward without adding unnecessary noise to the room. 2. You Relate Everything to Your Personal LifeIf this is the case for you, congrats. It sounds like youre part of a team youd spend time with out of the office, and that is something you should be really excited about. However, if youre using personal examples to illustrate every thought during a meeting, youre making it way too easy to get off-topic. And youre probably over-sharing.What to Do InsteadThe best meetings I attend typically reserve the first few minutes for ev eryone to catch up. But once those few minutes are up, thats it. Everyones attention turns to the task at hand. Even if youre not leading the conversation, this is still a good mental note to keep for yourself. Unless youre asked to provide a personal example, or you have one that illustrates the point so perfectly, save it for another time.3. You departure Debates That Arent Relevant to the ConversationIts frustrating when you and your team are trying to sort through the details of a tricky project, only to have someone derail the conversation by completely changing the subject. Although you probably have good intentions and usually arent trying to bring up a new topic entirely, its a time waster, especially because the team now likely has two unresolved issues to get through in a limited amount of time.What to Do InsteadThe solution here is simple- stay engaged in the debate everyone is having. Of course, bring up relevant tangents if it relates back to the meetings goal, but dont interrupt a conversation everyone else is having, just so you can bring up that great idea youve been thinking about forever. Waiting just a few minutes will not only help you be present in the current conversation, but it will help you avoid seeming like a me first teammate to the rest of your colleagues. The surprising truth is that the solution to appearing like a contributor during a meeting doesnt involve talking until youre blue in the face. Rather, it involves listening to what people are saying and doing your personal best to drive the meeting forward- whether thats with thoughtful comments or just an approving head nod. Photo of boring meeting courtesy of Shutterstock.