Coaching | Personality Development
The PATTA principle: Appear professional despite total cluelessness.
From Sabine Walter
For some it's part of everyday life, for others it catches them on the wrong foot. Being asked to lead meetings or take over an appointment even though you have little knowledge of the content. Below you will find some tips on how to present yourself professionally, even if you are not an expert in this field:
- Mentally switch from the expert to the facilitator role. Identify yourself with this role.
- Take up space at the meeting table and maintain appropriate eye contact with everyone.
- Open the appointment when appropriate to your role and clearly state the objective of the appointment.
- Remember the names of those present and address them by name.
- Summarise at regular intervals.
- Ask what will be recorded in the minutes and visualise the results.
- Create commitment at the end: Who does what by when?
If you understand little of what is being said, guide the appointment about questions and thus give structure to what is said:
- What exactly is the goal of the appointment or the project?
- What has already been done so far?
- What is the current status?
Paraphrase named problems and ask for possible solutions. Ask for advantages and disadvantages of the solutions presented. Enquire, Which next steps are absolutely necessary in order to move forward.
If you succeed in fully identifying with the role of moderator, you will also radiate this sovereignty and the fact that you are not a technical expert will not carry any weight.
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