Speaking up in meetings
So I’m a second year analyst at a large REPE firm in nyc. Love my job and the people I work with however, especially in meetings w more senior people I tend to be pretty quiet (which I feel like is the norm in an analyst position). Today I was in a meeting with our MDs and wasn’t speaking much (and I wasn’t being asked questions etc) then at the end of the meeting one of the MDs says “don’t be too loud” to me.
I know it was a joke but how as an analyst can you speak up and provide more value in meetings?
Ask your MD questions that you know he doesn’t have the answer to
Not really answering your question but something ive done, as im also trying to speak more in meetings, is go out of my way to talk early on in the meeting/ before it officially starts to some extent. this quickly shows everyone in the room that you'll be participating and speaking up without hesitaiton. As someone who has never gotten feedback to shut up more, it'll likely feel like you're talking too much, when in reality it'll feel very normal to everyone else.
I would try to find something to say if you are getting comments like that. Have your own opinion on something. Agree (or disagree with) with/reword something someone else said. Crack a joke. Just say something so people look at you as [your name] instead of the analyst who doesn’t talk
Yeah this is good advice - I probably should’ve also added that I joined the firm 2 months ago so hopefully will come with time
Our senior guys always do this to the fresh analysts to intentionally make you feel uncomfortable/nervous. Don’t overthink it. In my opinion it’s a ball busting mechanism to put some hair on your chest to help encourage you to leave the playground mentally. Like others have said, try to talk before the meeting starts or to have a question at the end. Before you walk into the meeting you can engage in small talk, which might continue briefly while you’re sitting down waiting for meeting to start. Also, try to prepare a few questions before the meeting so you have them in your back pocket. If you know certain deals/initiatives are going to be discussed then you can prep a question about a specific dynamic for one of them. I wouldn’t then go out of your way to ask one of those questions necessarily, though. I’d save it in case called upon (unless you feel asking like they want you to ask a question unprompted.. every team is different). Our big guys will randomly call on an analyst to see if they have a question just to stress them out (in a good way). They’ll either have one that they thought of or they’ll nervously say ‘no not right now’. You should try to be the former.
In the future if they flat out say something like “don’t be too loud” then don’t be afraid to dish it back a bit. Don’t bust their balls but maybe say something like “John I’m just soaking it all in over here” or “I’ll try to keep it down next time”.
When in doubt, just pull your dick out. This strategy is bullet proof...
Pipe down unless you’re agreeing with my comments.
thx,
your loving VP
To add on to what others have said in the thread, you can ask your manager to review some talking points with you and help tee you up. Don’t wait for people to call on you. If they’re a good manager, they will want you to speak and will appreciate the initiative.
I’ve been in your boat - I’m a quiet person and was told similarly to speak up more. One of my managers told me that she used to be the same as an analyst, but her manager put a system in place to help: her manager and her would set up 5 mins before each meeting to review any talking points that she could cover instead of her manager. For bigger meetings, she would put together some talking points and send to the manager via email 1hr+ beforehand, workshop via email, and then she would have a concrete narrative by the meeting.
Some might not like the extra structure/effort, but IMO it takes the pressure off to not speak out of turn, you don’t have to come up with stuff on the fly, and allows the managers to showcase your growth. Win-win. You’ll also feel more comfortable the more you speak, and over time it will feel less like you’re jumping in since everyone will already expect you to say something. My manager now absolutely crushes it and knows the answer to every question asked in meetings because she’s always prepped.
Not saying to do this forever (because it takes your managers time too) but its been a great stepping stone for a shy guy like myself to speaking up in senior meetings.
Ask them personal questions like how their second divorce is going, when’s the last time they spoke to their estranged daughter and how much nair they use to maintain the shiny bald look.
imposter syndrome is real...I just pick out the things being said and add to the ones that I know most about.
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