ISSUE FOCUS:
SHINE AT MEETINGS
> Here's How to Be a Star Participant and Advance Your Career 
Most employees could benefit from more prime opportunities to let their managers and team members see and appreciate their best qualities. While every day offers a new chance to enhance your career, some of the most direct interactions with the people who can influence the trajectory of your career happen in meetings that are about more than dispensing information.
But too often, staff members arrive at a meeting with something to contribute, only to spend it being one of the many in attendance who keep mostly quiet, taking notes or glancing at their cell phones. Sometimes it can be hard to differentiate yourself from the crowd, but if you prepare well, meetings can be a platform to propel your professional career.
The secrets of success as a meeting-goer are anything but secret. In fact, through planning and thoughtful participation, you can eliminate the anxiety meetings sometimes cause and show both your peers and your managers the best possible you. Here are some simple steps to becoming a star participant.
Arrive Prepared
Before you head into the meeting, be sure you're on top of the agenda's goals. Read any daily reports your company releases and stay in contact with your supervisors. Odds are that the most interesting things to them will show up at your next meeting. With this in mind, be sure to do your research. While you are trying to understand the issues, also be sure you recognize how your organization wants them resolved. It's important to know the goals, but also to understand the background to offer comments that will be meaningful and effective. READ MORE
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