Five Steps to Showing Up 100% Engaged

Marissa Levin

A client called me to discuss a serious situation with a customer. My client is a government contractor, and has placed 20 full-time employees at her customer’s location.

There is a lot at stake with a potentially volatile situation.

As one who personally knows the challenges of the government environment, and of running a government contracting firm, I could personally relate to her situation and anxiety.

My client needed, and had a right to expect, my undivided attention. Creating a distraction-free environment in which we can be completely present and show up 100% takes effort today. We’re always multi-tasking, we juggle multiple devices, and our schedules are over-crowded.

Here is how I make sure I stay completely present when I’m scheduled for a one-on-one call:

I schedule our time with a buffer on both sides. Often appointments run over, and we may have to start a few minutes early or late. I want to be sure my appointment has a cushion of time so that they don’t bring additional anxiety to our conversation.
Prior to our time together, I take a few minutes to review any notes/information that will educate me & prepare me for our discussion.
I clear my physical space. I close my emails and my browsers, and declutter my desk. I place a notebook and pen nearby so I am ready to take notes.
I visualize how I want to show up in our meeting. I recognize that I have the power & responsibility to make an impact. For example, with my coaching & strategy clients, I want to be present, compassionate, open, sympathetic, credible, trustworthy, solutions-focused, and helpful. By identifying how I want to show up, I engage in the behaviors that result in these outcomes.
I think about how I want the other party in my meeting to feel. I want my coaching clients to feel safe, supported, empowered, and equipped with knowledge and strategies to move forward.

My undivided attention enabled me to help my client adapt a mindset of total situational control. We mapped out the four key points she was going to make with her client. This demonstrated to her customer that my client was fully ready to respond to the unexpected challenge that arose, and that she had a plan of action. Going into the meeting with her customer, my client felt empowered and supported. Her customer knew that my client had a difficult situation well under control.

All of us have the potential to bring power and presence to our conversations, whether they are on the phone, on Skype, online, or in person. These are great strategies to use for any conversation…with a customer, an employee, a partner. A little bit of forethought and effort with respect to how we show up can yield big results in the areas of trust and connection.

For your next meeting, what are some ways you can show up 100%, and drive your desired outcomes? Rather than leaving your meeting to chance, set up your environment for success.

Do you have other strategies for complete connection? Please email me to share them.

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About Successful Culture
We work with business owners, CEOs, and leadership teams that want to achieve their greatest personal & organizational potential. Through coaching, strategic consulting, retreat facilitation, and workshops, we equip leaders & emerging leaders with the mindset, tools, strategies, and processes they need to excel.

Ready to move forward? Email us today at [email protected].

Connect with me on Instragram, Facebook, and Twitter. Engage with me during my morning Periscope sessions as well (@marissalevin).

Please check out my Inc. Magazine columns on my Author Page too.
– In my latest Inc, article, I share The Essential Guide to Avoiding Workplace Text, Email, & Social Media Disasters.
– Learn about the 9 Leadership Behaviors that Lose Employee Trust & Respect here.

~Marissa Levin
CEO, Successful Culture
“Taking Leaders from Triage to Transformation.”

photo credit Ascension Digital via Free Digital Photos

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Marissa Levin

Marissa Levin is the co-founder of Successful Culture International, which applies a proprietary Culture Development Lifecycle (CDL) to help organizations move from current state to desired state, and helps leaders reach their greatest personal and organizational potential. As founder of a 23-year old, multimillion-dollar business that pivoted seven times in response to market shifts, Levin has personally overcome every business challenge her clients have faced, which uniquely qualifies her to lead leaders through change. She is also the author of Built to Scale: How Top Companies Create Breakthrough Growth Through Exceptional Advisory Boards.

Five Steps to Showing Up 100% Engaged

Marissa Levin

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Marissa Levin

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