Skip Level Meetings - Tips for Junior Staff
In this post, we will review what Skip Level meetings are, who attends them, why they are important and provide helpful actionable tips.
What are they?
Skip levels are meetings with your leader's leader and other leaders in your organization.
Who attends them?
These meetings are usually open to junior staff members within a department. Also generally available to interns. Sometimes, these are one-on-one meetings or held with a group.
Why are they important?
Skip level meetings are important for your development and visibility. These can give you an opportunity to establish a deeper connection with other leaders.
How do I get invited?
Most skip-level meetings will have a set cadence and a formal sign-up process.
Be prepared!
If this is your first time meeting this leader, have your intro ready. This is also referred to as an elevator pitch.
Be personable!
Find common interests
Be relevant!
Come with a couple of topics to discuss
Have a few well-thought-out questions ready
Be present!
Actively listen
Take notes
Follow-up
Here are some actionable tips:
1. Introduce yourself!
State who you are, where you work, what your role is, and what you bring to it. Tailor this based on your relationship with the leader and how much they already know about you. For more tips on how to create an elevator pitch, see this guide from Harvard:
2. Connect!
Mention a hobby, a pet, vacation plans, favorite podcast, last movie/book you saw/read, etc. Build a rapport. Make a personal connection.
3. Discuss!
Have at least two topics ready and lead with your strongest.
Suggested topics include:
personal or team achievements
team or department goals
challenges (be sure to bring your thoughts and solutions)
company-wide initiatives
4. Listen!
Actively listen. Take notes. Be prepared to answer questions. If you don't know the answer, that's okay! Write it down and say you will get back to them – and do it!
5. Say thanks!
Thank them for their time. And speaking of time, be mindful of their time. Show up on time, don't go over the allotted time, and follow-up in a timely manner.
Sometimes the leader will have a set agenda. If so, familiarize yourself with it ahead of time. Tailor your questions and topics to it. If they don't, that means they want you to drive the conversation, so the more prepared you are, the better you will come across.
If this is your first time meeting this leader do a little research. Check the company intranet to see if there's a short bio. Look them up on LinkedIn. Ask your fellow colleagues if they've met the leader. Ask your direct leader. Don't go in cold.
The success of this meeting depends on you, so make the most of it.
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