Comedian Ana Gasteyer served up a dose of reality to TikTokers: If you shoot your walk through the airport buying snacks, clearing security, and waiting to board, you’re missing the point. That video isn’t a POV. It’s just what people do when they go through the airport!
Unfortunately, Ana’s observation also applies to work. Have you ever been in a meeting with someone talking in circles? Who is so busy finishing a monologue that they’re not aware that everyone else has checked out? That’s when you wind up thinking, Rambling isn’t a POV.
In the September series, Don’t Miss the Assignment, we’re talking about how to use people skills to get the How right. Understanding people is always the real assignment at work.
Job 1 for any meeting is to show up on time and be ready to participate. Still, most meetings are boring and mediocre. So, if you want your attendance to matter, come to every meeting with a perspective.
And if you’re ready to raise your profile even higher, make that perspective actionable. Agenda items like “finishing the deal” or “wrapping up the marketing campaign” are room killers because they’re too high-level and ambiguous.
In its place, leverage your quantifiable knowledge and lived experience. They’re the difference between bringing a credible viewpoint vs. becoming the irritating person who simply chimes in with opinions about everyone else’s business. <No names, please.>
Make meetings productive and memorable by thinking through a roadmap or brainstorming a few actionable steps. Your colleagues, manager, and Lead are already thanking you for an actual POV.
September is the perfect month to mimic the kids and learn something new. But you don’t need to add random classes to your already-busy calendar. Starting is as easy as new reading.
And do you know who makes reading a top priority? Marines. No kidding.
During a visit to UC Berkeley, retired General James Mattis explained that a Reading List is assigned from privates to four-star generals. The idea is to expand a Marine’s POV, so it combines knowledge and field experience with managing their mindset.
For instance:
* Studying military campaigns provides background details. But Marines are also expected to merge historical data with creative, contemporary thinking. That’s how they’re ready for any terrain in the world.
* Marines understand that emotions are a force multiplier. So, research helps them balance intellectual rigor with emotional self-control.
* And they also recognize the value of humor. Mattis described humor as “body armor for your spirit” so soldiers can maintain their humanity and moral center.
And what happens if you never get around to that Reading List? General Mattis joked that your weekend plans just got made because you now have a book report due Monday morning!
You may listen to the case study and think, A whole Reading List? I barely have time to catch my breath.
So, here’s the compromise. Your time may be at a premium to work through your Reading List. However, you can bring a POV based on your current knowledge and lived experience immediately.
At your next meeting, try accomplishing the task at hand but also making an ally. Leave others noting how you think on your feet. And impress someone so much that you’re their first call the next time there’s an opening.
Here’s what acing the assignment sounds like:
And your customizable AI prompt is: Review the Meeting Notes I uploaded and question reasoning, underestimating tasks, or vague conclusions.
Don’t leave your career to fate or dull meetings. Make your POV your sharpest career weapon.
