Grabbing a Quick Cup of Coffee? How to Be Present.

I had a meeting a few months ago with a local business owner who’s built an outstanding company from the ground up over the past ten years.

As soon as we started, he told me “I just have an hour, but I want to give you my complete attention, so I’m setting a timer on my phone”. Then, he set a timer for an hour, put his phone in his pocket and never glanced at anything other than me for the next hour.

It was a simple thing to do, but showed me that I was his top priority for the next hour. Nothing else mattered other than trying to help me.

What can I learn from that?

1. Eliminate Distractions.

Put down your phone! Set a timer if you have a strict schedule.

2. Look someone in the eye.

Don’t look around the room to see if someone more worthy of your time is walking in (this goes double for conference and other networking situations).

3. Prepare

If someone is gracious enough to give you their time, spend some time prepping. Write down your top three questions that you want to ask them and email the list to them the day before your meeting. Show them you value their calendar and take their time seriously.

Whether you’re meeting a business leader for advice, having lunch with a new prospect or perhaps just connecting with a new friend, learn how to make that few minutes engaging enough that they feel like the most important person in the world.