9 Tips for Your First Time in a Meeting

We've all been there. First time in a one on one meeting with your boss. First time in a brainstorming session. First time in a staff meeting. First time with the new leadership team. Whether your 1st meeting ever as a young intern, a newly hired greenie, or seasoned pro who is new to the team, there are some keys to how you should approach the environment of a 1st time meeting.

1. Don't try to be the expert. Reality is, you're probably not. Make others in the room around you the expert.

2. Ask lots of questions. This is your entry point for any meeting, at any level. Good questions give you instant credibility. And many times are more strategic than the right answer.

3. Don't feel like you have to give any answers. While asking good questions, don't feel the need to provide answers in response. Immediate answer givers can quickly become annoying and overbearing. 

4. Be curious and engaging. Look people in the eye. Engage with everyone around the table and in the room. Encourage others ideas.

5. Take a posture of learning. Be the most interested. Listen really well. 

6. Get coffee. Or drinks. Or snacks. This shows you are okay with serving everyone else. Whether young or old, you've never too old or young to wait on others.

7. Write it down. Whether you're the official "note taker" or not, writing things down shows honor to those around you, plus writing it down and taking notes creates accountability for you and helps you remember next steps. 

8. Push for clarity, and move towards execution. Direct the meeting and overall conversation towards execution and completion. The goal of a meeting is to make things happen, so do your part in moving that way. 

9. Act like you don't belong, but work like you do. This is a good rule for any meeting, and your overall leadership in general.

Young Influencers List July Edition

Here you go the July edition of the Young Influencers List. You can see all the past month's lists here. 

1. Jason Dyba - Atlanta based designer, video producer, artist and creative project manager at Passion Conferences. Check this out. 

2. Latasha Morrison - Austin based abolitionist, reconciler, bridge builder, and director of operations at Gateway Church. 

3. Heredes Ribeiro - campus pastor and COO of Potential Church in Miami. 

4. Lawrence Sheffield - Birmingham based founder and ex director of Magic City Woodworks, helping young leaders experience the art of woodworking. 

5. Diana Mao and Alissa Williams - NYC based co founders of Nomi Network, globally creating employment opportunities for at risk women. 

6. Paul Park - executive director of First Fruit Foundation in LA. 

7. Nikkolas Smith - LA based concept artist, architect, and part of the Disney Imagineering team. 

10 Ways to Elevate your Leadership Level

It's middle of the year, and as such, here are 10 reminders and ways to raising your leadership level. Hopefully these motivate you as well as inspire and challenge your team.  

I would recommend talking through each of these with your team, and challenging your team to live these out with intentionality over the next few months. 

1. Lead with Authenticity. Be Real. Human. approachable. Guard against hubris.

2. No sideways energy. Communicate. Focus. Guard against silos and wasted energy.

3. Stewardship. Each of us embracing and understanding our role in what we've been given and required to manage and uphold through the current platform we have.. Not just the leader, or the person in charge. 

4. Expertise. See myself as an expert, both in Individual responsibility and organizational responsibility.

5. Receive what we create. Become our own customer. Be passionate about allowing what you do to actually be something that you appreciate being the customer of. Guard against the mundane.

6. Guard against cynicism. Behind the curtain we have to guard against this. Fight it at every turn. And call it out if we see it.

7. Excellence. We are the best in the world. Confidence not arrogance. Act like it. Maintain a standard. Guard against being lazy and pessimistic.

8. Serve one another. Jump in and help. Get it done mentality. Not just at events or special occasions. All the time. Be willing to do whatever it takes.

9. Protect and maintain a "make it happen" culture. Guard against the phrase "it's not my job." and guard against creating clicks.

10. Get better every day. Guard against complacency. Keep learning and leaning into constant and continuous improvement. 

Young Influencers List, June Edition

Here you go, another edition of the Young Influencers List. The sizzling hot June edition! You can see all the past month's lists here. 

1. Kirsten Dickerson - founder and CEO of Austin based ethical fashion and social business Raven + Lily. 

2. CJ Alvarado - Sacramento based brand strategist, creative thinker and CEO of Bamboo Creative. 

3. Kristen Ivy - Atlanta based writer, story enthusiast, and Executive Director of Messaging for Orange. 

4. Eric Johnson - author, speaker, creative and senior pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, CA

5. Taro Arai- executive head chef of Mikuni, a Japanese Restaurant and Sushi bar in Sacramento, one of best sushi places on the west coast (**exceeds the age average but wanted to include!!) 

6. Alice Rhee - Emmy award winning journalist, TV producer, advisor for Tribeca Film Institute, and director of media for the HE Butt Foundation out of Texas. 

7. Rohan Dredge - Melbourne Australia based leadership coach, podcaster, blogger and senior pastor of Discovery Church. 

7 Thoughts on Taking a Risk Now

Stepping out. Risking. Taking a chance. It's what we do as leaders. So why risk? Why do we as leaders step out and move into places of the "unknown" when we are in a comfortable niche and established as the dominant force?

Why change if things are going great for you? Why shift when you're in a place of comfort, convenience and familiarity? 

Great question. So why do we risk and take courage as leaders? Had to think about my answer. Six things stood out to me on the whole issue of taking a risk:

1. Entrepreneurs and Type A Leaders are never satisfied with the status quo and the "comfortable" niche. They can't stand to sit still. Their DNA won't allow it. They must create change. 

2. Stewardship- because what you are running or leading is temporary, and your responsibility is to steward it correctly because others are counting on you. If this requires changing or risking, then you need to step out and continue to push the envelope with what God has given you.

3. Adventure and the power of the pioneer- many of us are wired to be pioneers. To go on an adventure. Pure and simple. The journey into the unknown actually beckons us. The mountaintop draws us. 

4. Due diligence suggests it's actually time to move- do your homework, research, talk to people, and take very seriously the idea that you are risking. It's dumb to step out and change/take a risk if you haven't properly prepared and surveyed the landscape. But once you've done your homework and prepared, then go for it. Many people stifle the actual desire to step out because they spent too much time on due diligence. Risking and stepping out can be calculated, planned and strategic.

5. The power of purpose and calling- it God has called you to something in a new season, then you have to be willing to chase after it. Because of the internal pull of God's call. It's a responsibility and an imperative.

6. Leaders are out in front- Being at the head of the pack means you many times end up in the unknown. Where there's no handbook, no guide, no roadmap. But being out in front is where leaders are comfortable, and out front is where leaders separate themselves from the rest.

7. Your response to risk opens up a spot- A willingness to step out allows other on your team to step up. A seat is opened up for someone else to step in and build a legacy of leadership.