9 Secrets to Making Meetings More Fun and Engaging
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Very few people enjoy meetings. They feel these events are a waste of time and nothing gets accomplished. Productivity often suffers when regular meetings are scheduled, as well. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Use the following nine tips to make meetings more enjoyable. Employees will appreciate the effort that is put into making these events something other than a burden they must endure.
Open with an Icebreaker
When meeting with a group for the first time, use an icebreaker to open things up. This may be a question that everyone is asked to answer, even if it is non-work related. For example, ask everyone what is number one on their bucket list of things to do. A joke is another great way to open a meeting. However, keep this activity short, as nobody wants to sit in a meeting longer than they must. If this activity takes a great deal of time, the participants aren’t going to enjoy the meeting as much.
Have Snacks on Hand
Always have snacks and drinks on hand for meetings. This amenity has increased in importance since the global pandemic, as people became accustomed to eating and drinking at leisure while working from home. When people go to get snacks and drinks, they often end up conversing with others.
The food serves as a way for them to connect with others and get to know each other better. In addition, the food and drinks show the host cares about the participants. A bonus is the snacks may spark creativity and lead to new ideas. Work with an office snack delivery service to ensure there are plenty of snacks and drinks for all taking part in the meeting.
Play Music
When people become disengaged, it’s a sign they need a break. Turn some music on and allow them to get up and move around or dance. Changing their position can help them to refocus. This entire activity doesn’t have to take more than a minute or two, but it will allow participants to come back to the table fresh and ready to continue with the meeting. In addition, it might show who has the good dance moves in the group.
Get to the Point
Everyone has seen the memes about meetings that should have been emails. Keep meetings short and to the point, as this ensures employees will pay more attention. Have an agenda laid out before the meeting begins and stick with this schedule. In addition, highlight the important points at the beginning of the meeting.
Consider having all questions asked via email. This allows the entire group to see the question and the answer while keeping the meeting short and to the point. It’s frustrating when one or more participants continue asking questions that have already been covered. Having these questions asked in email form makes life easier for all. If the same question is asked repeatedly, the meeting host can refer the person back to the prior answer.
Tuned In
Many meetings take part virtually now, and this activity is perfect for that type of meeting. However, it can also be used when people are meeting in person. Provide every person with a piece of paper that says Tuned In on it. When it looks like people are no longer paying attention, hold this paper up. Every person in the meeting should then hold their paper up. The last person to do so must complete a challenge.
Find a New Venue
Why meet at the office when other venues are available? Consider having the meeting at a local park or take everyone out for coffee and cover the important topics there. The ideas are endless when a person chooses to move a meeting outside the four walls of the office. Everyone loves a change now and then. Use this when planning a meeting for great results.
Word of the Day
Pick a word for the day, one that has nothing to do with the topics being discussed at the meeting. Try to fit this word into the conversation as often as possible. This helps to keep team members engaged, as they want to hear when the word is said and how it is fit into a sentence. When they hear this word used, they can raise their hand. Have someone there to tally who raises their hand when the word is said. Reward the person who hears it the most with a special treat, such as a long lunch.
Play a Game
To break up the monotony of the meeting, play a game. This may be done halfway through the meeting or whenever the host feels it is appropriate to take a break. Make certain everyone can participate in the game, however, as no person attending the meeting should feel excluded.
Two truths and a lie is one game many hosts choose to play with meeting participants. If people are taking part in the meeting from home, set up a scavenger hunt. The first person to find three listed items in their home should win a prize. Regardless of what game is selected, the short break allows participants to refocus on the task at hand.
Highlight Great Work
Consider going around the room and asking each participant to list one win they had the previous week. Another idea is to ask team members to point out something a member of their team did that was outstanding. However, if this idea is used, take care to ensure everyone gets recognized. Nobody wants to feel left out when praise is being given. A host can also go around the room and give each person a superlative, such as best problem solver, most helpful, or friendliest.
By implementing these tips, a meeting host can ensure the event becomes an effective working session. In addition, effective meetings leave employees with a sense of purpose. While the meeting should be professional, this doesn’t mean it has to be dry and boring. The above tips help to ensure every participant leaves the meeting with something new they can use in the course of their work activities.
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