Every Meeting is an Opportunity.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed or bored by too many meetings early in your career. Let’s be honest—seasoned professionals feel that way, too. The difference lies in how you approach them. With the right mindset, meetings can transform from a time drain into a golden opportunity for growth and impact. Here’s how:

1. A Masterclass in Learning: Every meeting is a chance to pick up something new—if you’re paying attention. It might be a technical insight, a strategy for effective  group communication, or a key piece of information about a business opportunity or client. Develop the habit of asking yourself, “What did I learn from this?” after every meeting. It’s a simple practice that turns even routine updates into opportunities to expand your knowledge.

2. Your Communication Lab: Meetings are the perfect place to test different communication styles and discover what works best for you. Use low-stakes or informal  meetings with peers as practice grounds. Hone how you frame an idea or the tone you use to respond to feedback. Over time, you’ll grow more comfortable and confident in your own unique approach and voice.

3. A Stage to Shine: Every meeting is also a chance to show your value. By actively participating—asking insightful questions, offering solutions, or simply demonstrating curiosity—you position yourself as a thoughtful, engaged contributor who is ready to go the extra mile for the organization. In many ways, every meeting is a mini “pitch” to show how you can help make the team or company more successful.

My advice? Shift your perspective.Reframe meetings from a tiresome routine into a platform for learning, experimentation, and positioning. In doing so, you’ll get far more out of them—and so will everyone else.