Does this sound familiar? You find out about an important meeting, one whose outcome affects you and your team, only after it happens. It’s hard not to take that personally. But don’t despair — take action so it doesn’t happen again. Reach out to a colleague who was at the meeting to learn more about the agenda and what happened. Then talk with the meeting leader. Refrain from harping on the past or focusing on your hurt feelings. Instead of saying “Why wasn’t I invited to that meeting? I should have been there!” try something along the lines of “I noticed that I wasn’t on the attendee list. After speaking with Joe about the agenda, I think it would be helpful if I was in future meetings about this topic.” Explain what someone in your role can contribute to the next meeting. Make the case that the outcome will be better if you’re in the room.
Adapted from "How to Respond When You're Left Out of Important Meetings," by Melissa Raffoni
