How To Contribute To Company Goals During Meetings

Contributing to company goals during meetings means aligning your input with the company’s objectives and minimizing antagonistic statements and unnecessary arguments.

When arguments arise, they often indicate a "power struggle between teams with conflicting goals." The primary reason people argue at work, especially during meetings, is that they have differing views on how things should be done. While differing opinions are not inherently bad, problems arise when the focus shifts from what is right for the client to what "an individual thinks is right." This distinction is often overlooked.

Have you ever wondered why board meetings or cross-departmental meetings are so tense? When the focus of the argument isn’t about doing what’s right for the customer or improving user experience, something is amiss.

What many don’t realize is that there are no “wrong” or “right” ideas—there are only the “best ideas,” the “productive ideas,” and the “proactive ideas.” These ideas should be discussed logically, with reason, valid arguments, and most importantly, keeping customer experience at the forefront.

Unproductive meetings that devolve into tension do not address the core issues.
For example:

• Department A is focused on what makes their job easier, while
• Department B is concerned with maintaining traditional practices for partners.

But who is thinking about the customers? What do customers want?
Focusing on customer needs doesn’t just generate ideas, it fosters cooperation, better debates, and ultimately, an exceptional experience for the company’s customers.

When you attend your next meeting, consider the following:

1. What is the goal?
   Every meeting should have a goal or theme: What do we want to achieve? Approaching the meeting with this mindset shifts conversations from arguments to discussions focused on outcomes.

2. There are no “wrong” or “right” ideas.
   Only proactive, productive, and innovative ideas exist. Encourage open-mindedness and creative thinking.

3. Avoid getting stuck in old ways.
   Be innovative, ingenious, creative, and solution-oriented. Focus on what can be done about a problem, rather than what cannot. Clinging to the status quo can stifle growth. The world is evolving—so should your ideas and strategies.

4. Think about customer/user experience.
   When customer needs are the top priority, meetings start on the right note. This mindset not only fosters solutions but also generates ideas and drives meaningful discussions during meetings, presentations, and interviews. Consider:
   a. What do customers want?
   b. What would improve their experience?
   c. What feedback have they provided?

5. Put yourself last.
   Focus not on what is easy for you or what you think is right, but on what’s best for the customer. While it’s fine to discuss how to make your job more efficient, always place customer needs at the top of your agenda.

Image: tips4teaching.co.uk