[外商系列] 如何在會議中更有效率表現自己？

從小到大，我說話並不特別出色，也不屬於表演型的人格，相對來說更加內向和害羞。然而，在職業追求上，我對產品策略、用戶體驗以及科技業懷抱極大的熱情。這樣的熱情最終讓我在一家著名的音樂串流公司擔任兩個團隊的產品主管。這中間的轉變，從一個害羞內向的性格，成為人們眼中超級外向和善於社交的產品經理，到底是如何實現的呢？

首先，我認為「產品經理必須要超級外向」這一觀點其實是一種刻板印象。產品經理真正需要做的，是將複雜的問題簡化，形成清晰的策略，而不僅僅是做華而不實的演講和簡報。

第一，充分準備：在每次會議前，我都會做好充分的準備。這包括了解會議參與者的背景、他們的需求以及他們期望從會議中獲得什麼信息。我會依據以下SOP模板來準備：

1. 會議類型確認：確定會議的類型（如項目啟動、進度更新、策略規劃、緊急應變）。

2. 參與者名單：列出所有會議參與者，瞭解他們的職位和在項目中的角色。

3. 會議目標：明確會議的主要目標和預期達成的具體成果。

4. 背景資料收集：收集與會議主題相關的數據、報告和以往的會議紀錄。

5. 問題清單：準備可能需要討論或解決的問題清單。

6. 預備問題：根據會議目的，預備一些策略性的問題以引導討論。

第二，積極聆聽與策略性提問：在會議中，我注重積極聆聽他人的觀點，並通過提出具有策略性的問題或總結對話內容來展示我的理解與深度分析能力。例如：

1. 當同事提出一個觀點時，我會回應：“這是一個有趣的觀點，你能進一步解釋你的思路嗎？”

2. 在討論過程中，若有不清楚的地方，我會詢問：“你剛才提到的方案能否具體說明其預期的影響？”

3. 為確保理解準確，我會重述對方的說法：“所以你的意思是，我們應該先從……開始，對嗎？”

4. 當需要深入討論時，我可能會問：“你認為這個問題的根本原因是什麼？”

5. 在會議結束時，我會問：“對於今天的討論，我們是否有遺漏了什麼重要的點？”

英文模板:

• When a colleague presents an idea, respond with: "That's an interesting point. Can you elaborate further on your thought process?"

• If something discussed isn't clear, ask: "Could you please explain the expected impact of the plan you mentioned earlier?"

• To ensure you've understood correctly, you might paraphrase their statement: "So, you mean we should start by... is that correct?"

• For a deeper discussion on issues, inquire: "What do you think is the root cause of this problem?"

• At the end of the meeting, to wrap up and ensure nothing has been overlooked, ask: "Have we missed any critical points in today's discussion?"

第三，有系統地組織思想： 使用框架或心智圖來結構你的想法。例如，在準備討論用戶留存策略時，創建一個思維導圖，包括用戶分類、留存率現狀、影響留存的因素、提議的策略，以及預期效果。這種方法可以幫助你在會議中清晰並有效地表達你的觀點。

以下是我會用到的Mind Map!

Imagine you're preparing for a meeting to discuss strategies to improve user retention for a mobile app. Here's how you might organize your thoughts using a mind map:

Central Node: User Retention Strategies

• Branch 1: User Segmentation

  • Demographics (Age, Location, Gender)

  • User Behavior (Active users, Lapsed users)

  • Subscription Type (Free, Paid, Trial)

• Branch 2: Current Retention Data

  • Overall Retention Rate

  • Retention by Segment

  • Recent Trends (e.g., Changes following new feature releases)

• Branch 3: Factors Affecting Retention

  • User Feedback (Surveys, Reviews)

  • Competitive Analysis (What competitors are doing well)

  • Technical Issues (App crashes, Bugs)

• Branch 4: Proposed Strategies

  • Personalization (Custom playlists, Recommendations)

  • Engagement (Push notifications, Regular updates, Community features)

  • Customer Support (Enhanced support system, Quick response time)

• Branch 5: Expected Outcomes

  • Increase in Overall Retention Rate

  • Improvement in User Satisfaction

  • Enhanced Brand Loyalty

• Branch 6: Metrics for Success

  • Retention Rate Improvement Targets

  • User Feedback and Satisfaction Scores

  • Engagement Metrics (Daily Active Users, Session Length)

How to Use This Mind Map in a Meeting

1. Introduction: Start by presenting the central node and quickly outline what the mind map covers.

2. Detail Each Branch:

   • Discuss each user segment and their specific retention data.

   • Highlight the key factors that are currently impacting user retention.

   • Introduce proposed strategies and how they align with the identified factors.

3. Expected Outcomes: Explain what changes are expected from the implementation of these strategies and why these changes are anticipated.

4. Metrics for Success: Detail how success will be measured post-implementation, tying back to the data presented at the start.

5. Feedback and Discussion: Open the floor for feedback on each strategy, inviting suggestions or concerns from the team.

最後！擴展詞彙與表達：持續學習新詞彙和用法，可以讓你的溝通更清晰、有說服力。

以下是我推介的資源:

Books

1. "Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life" by Marshall B. Rosenberg - This book teaches communication skills that foster effective exchange of ideas, which can be particularly useful in technical discussions.

2. "The Elements of Style" by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White - A classic guide to writing clearly and concisely, which is invaluable for tech professionals who need to document or explain complex concepts.

3. "Technical Communication" by Mike Markel and Stuart A. Selber - This book provides practical advice for creating user manuals, reports, and presentations in technical fields.

透過這些策略的實施，即使是內向的你也能在外商及會議中發揮影響力，展示出領導才能。希望這些分享能夠啟發你在會議中更有效率地表現自己，並在職場上取得成功!