3 ways to avoid being the person who talks too much in meetings

3 ways to avoid being the person who talks too much in meetings3 ways to avoid being the person who talks too much in meetingsYou dont ever want to be the person whose voice is the only thing people remember after a meeting because you talked so much.Heres how to avoid this, whether youre in charge of the meeting or just attending it.Play a gameArt Markman, a professor of Psychology and Marketing at the University of Texas at Austin, an author and Founding Director of the Program in the Human Dimensions of Organizations, writes in the Harvard Business Reviewabout how to prevent yourself from dominating the conversation during a meeting youre in charge of.One of his tips is to use a round-robin format, referencing its use in the film 12 Angry Men.Even if someones life doesnt hang in the balance, this round-robin format can be a good way to ensure that many people have a chance to express their opinions. You can give people the option of passing on their turn, but at least you are allo wing everyone a chance to lend their voice, he continues. There are many people who dont like to be the center of attention, even at a fairly small meeting, so they wont chime in even if they have something valuable to say. In a round-robin, attention is given to people by the structure of the meeting - bedrngnis from being called on - so the pressure is off.Ladders is now on SmartNewsDownload the SmartNews app and add the Ladders channel to read the latest career news and advice wherever you go.Listen with a purposeDonna Rosato, formerly a senior writer at MONEY Magazine (now a senior writer at Consumer Reports), features commentary on talking too much at work from Annie Stevens in MONEY. Stevens is now Principal Consultant at leadership development and executive coaching firm ClearRock.Practice active listening, Rosato writes. Dont just be lying in conversational wait for your turn to talk. Pay close attention to what is being discussed and ask relevant follow up questions. Show ing your listening skills can be just as important as showing how much you can talk, says Stevens. If the person you are speaking with believes that youre interested in what theyre saying, he or she will think positively about you.Reel it inRich Moy, a Content Marketing Writer at Stack Overflow, writes in The Muse about various indicators that youre being too talkative in meetings and how to prevent this.One of the indicators is You Start Debates That Arent Relevant to the Conversation. Moy provides an alternative.The solution here is simple - stay engaged in the debate everyone is having. Of course, bring up relevant tangents if it relates back to the meetings goal, but dont interrupt a conversation everyone else is having, just so you can bring up that great idea youve been thinking about forever, he writes. Waiting just a few minutes will not only help you be present in the current conversation, but it will help you avoid seeming like a me first teammate to the rest of your coll eagues.