In a recent interaction with a colleague, I noticed he had a less-than-friendly attitude toward me. In fact, he was downright rude. I couldn't think of what I had done to cause his demeanor, so I set up a time to discuss it with him.

"I deserve a seat at the table, too," he said. "I should be going to the same meetings you go to. I don't understand why you are in strategy sessions with our executives and I'm not. You should be taking me with you."

After getting over my shock, I explained to him that I don't just show up at these meetings; I'm invited by the meeting leaders. I don't control who attends. But I also had to provide him with some honest feedback. For example, when he does go to meetings, he often complains and points out problems without offering solutions. He doesn't contribute and it gets tiring for all involved.

In this issue of Promotional Consultant Today, follow these tips to help you earn a seat at the big kids' table, too.

1. Come to meetings prepared. Prior to any meeting, always review the agenda if it's shared ahead of time. Whether you're discussing an account, a new vendor or a new business opportunity, do your research ahead of time.

2. Have the right attitude. A strategy meeting or executive-level meeting is not the place to dump on others about the frustrations of your job or the company. This negativity makes others uncomfortable and can create the "jump on the bandwagon" effect. Either way, this is counterproductive and can derail the meeting. People at any level of the organization don't want to spend time at meetings that are unproductive. Instead, go in with the right attitude. Be positive. Be a problem solver. Prepare to be a contributor.

3. Be creative. If you want to get invited to the "right" meetings, then get creative. It sounds cliché, but think outside the box. Take a different perspective. Look at the problem from a different angle. Ask thought-provoking questions at the end of a presentation. This thinking gets you noticed. This type of creative thinking drives discussion, which leads to additional brainstorming, and that's the foundation for innovation.

4. Know your place. While meetings are an opportunity to drive discussion, know your place as well. Be respectful of other roles and other titles. You certainly don't want to interrupt the COO or disagree with your boss' boss and cause embarrassment. On the flip side, don't be shy. Contribute when it makes sense to contribute, which leads to the next point.

5. Focus on the issue, not your own agenda. Speaking of contributing, don't talk just to be noticed. Don't go into a meeting with the goal of getting promoted or looking smarter than your boss in front of others. Don't go into the meeting to build a consensus for additional funding for your budget. Stay focused on the problem at hand. It's simple. Be authentic. That's how you get noticed, and that's how you receive an invitation to the next critical meeting.

Source: Cassandra Johnson is a tech-savvy marketing communications consultant and freelance writer. She reports on the latest trends in the promotional products industry, public relations, direct marketing, e-marketing and more. She supports clients in a variety of industries, including promotional products, hospitality, financial services and technology.