From Psychologies · Guillaume Servant · · 40s
Harvard Professors Secret Meeting Hacks
Two invisible prep moves boost big meetings.
In brief
Two invisible prep moves boost big meetings. Leslie John, Harvard professor, says preparing meeting space and asking open questions improves outcomes. Originally reported by Psychologies.
Leslie John's meeting secret
Harvard negotiation professor explains two invisible prep moves for big meetings.
“Leslie John, professor of negotiation and behavioral economics at Harvard Business School”
First prep move: space setup
Choose familiar meeting space to build confidence.
“Negotiating on your own territory makes you more confident”
Second prep move: questions
Prepare open questions to learn about others.
“Ask what changed since last meeting”
Key questions for success
Four questions to uncover priorities and needs.
“What changed for you since last meeting?”
Practical prep time
Five minutes for space, five for questions.
“Ten minutes total for effective meeting prep”
What happens next
Listen actively instead of reciting.
“People who prepare well listen and respond better”
The one thing
Leslie John, Harvard professor, says preparing meeting space and asking open questions improves outcomes.
