A piece of advice I was given once: "Listen with your eyes." Translated: when you're the new person in management meetings, pay attention to which person comman

A piece of advice I was given once: "Listen with your eyes." Translated: when you're the new person in management meetings, pay attention to which person commands the most attention at a meeting. At one previous company when the owner/CEO spoke, very few of the C-level people would look at him, other didn't put down their phones. But when the CFO spoke, EVERYONE paid attention. It was a pretty solid leading indicator that this person had the most sway in the company. Later experience proved this out: he had the CEO's ear and anything he requested became official (solid CFO -- what he asked for was good for the company and the CEO knew it and appreciated it).