The new year is here and it’s time to start thinking about how we can make our meetings more productive in 2022. In addition to being more productive, meetings need to be more effective because people are working from home more often and communication requires a little extra effort. Here are several tips to make sure that you have an engaging meeting in 2022.
Encourage Prep
One of the most effective ways to improve the efficiency of meetings is by having pre-work. This is a great way to encourage employees to prepare for the meeting and provide them with the necessary tools and resources to make informed decisions. Ask participants to provide their own ideas and solutions before the meeting begins. This will allow the discussion to be more efficient and interactive.
Open Virtual Meetings Early
If you’re hosting a virtual meeting, before the meeting begins, open the virtual meeting room to allow people to mingle and converse before the meeting begins. This will allow them to build camaraderie and make the most of the meeting. It’s also important to give the participants permission to connect in a healthy manner. This can help avoid distractions during the meeting and promote collaborative relationships.
Recap Action Items
Before the meeting, send everyone an agenda that includes the agenda and any other materials they can use to make the most of the meeting. This will allow you to focus on the important decisions that need to be made. Once those decisions are made and it’s time to wrap up the meeting, ensure you summarize action items at the end. Additionally, consider sending out a summary via email or other written communication to restate those action items so they don’t get forgotten.
Call on Specific People
Instead of asking everyone to comment or question the other participants, invite the individuals to participate in the discussion by asking specific questions of specific individuals. This will allow the participants to provide their own ideas and solutions, and encourage more quiet employees to contribute to the conversation. This will allow the discussion to be more interactive and make the most of the meeting.
Hopefully, these tips are helpful if you are struggling to lead productive meetings. Looking for more tips for running a successful meeting? Check out the next article to continue the conversation!