Nothing is less exciting than the prospect of a meeting. While some meetings aren’t necessary and others need to be time-boxed better, meeting with our teammates and sharing thoughts, ideas, opinions and solutions is an important exercise.
But how do you make them less dreadful? How do you stop having useless meetings? How do you design memorable meetings?
These are the questions this Management 3.0 Module looks to answer. The module tackles something that all managers and teammates alike struggle with.
In fact executives spend on average a third of their days in meetings and spend 25-50 percent of the time feeling like it’s an utter waste.
Note: The Better Meetings module received an overhaul in March 2021. Version 3 now includes tips for better virtual meetings.
8 Tips for Running Productive Meetings
Stop inviting, sell your meeting
When you want people to attend, you should learn to communicate the value of the meeting so that people want to attend. And everyone can participate. If you cannot convince your coworkers to attend your meeting, it is your problem, not theirs!
Make meetings visual
Visual meetings are not only more fun than normal meetings, they are also more interactive and productive.
One topic per meeting
Meetings should not be systematic. They make sense when the topic or issue is challenging or emotional, and there is a need to address the concerns of your co-workers.
Make decisions, even if they’re imperfect
Getting traction on a single thing is far more useful than touching on many without forward momentum on any.
Shorter meetings are more productive
Use solution-focused approach: Shorten meetings focus on actions and not on the problem.
Encourage the clash of ideas
Too often, people strive for consensus which leaves fertile ground uncovered. In a good meeting, people get fired up arguing their points.
Break the ice and energize with games
Start a meeting with an icebreaker or a team activity.
Seek to improve
Ask for the feedback.
Powerful Tips for Online Meetings
There are a few additional tips for better virtual meetings that are going to be introduced within the module.
Spice up your meeting by telling stories.
Improv Cards are a great way to bring people out of their comfort zone toward real communication as you go through change management or look to increase employee engagement. There are a million ways you can play Improv Cards, as long as you have fun and open talks!
