Many people dread going to meetings for the very simple reason that it's not going to achieve anything. If you are someone who goes into a meeting with your head in the clouds, thinking that you could have done a lot more outside of the meeting room, you are not alone. It's so important to have a focused and productive session, so with this in mind, what does it really take to get meetings done efficiently and make it feel like you've actually done something?
Encourage Everyone to Contribute
Meetings are a way for performers to set goals and help individual members of staff understand the working environment. Therefore, every part of the team needs to contribute. Now, we are all aware of the pitfalls of using Zoom, and remote meetings where everybody is distributed remotely can be great for the work-life balance, but when it comes to meetings, it may be beneficial to have more people gather in one room. While this may not be always feasible, there are ways to create that more team-oriented approach, which is where tech can be invaluable. Tools like the Poly X30 video bar can help small teams to assemble in front of the camera, so it is possible for everyone to contribute rather than feeling like they don't need to contribute because they are dialling in remotely. Everybody needs to offer something because this is the only way a business can grow.
Get It Done
Our attention span can be anywhere between 10 and 15 minutes, and as the average meeting is at least 30 minutes or up to an hour, it's far better to keep meetings shorter. Many people actually use meetings as an opportunity to catch up on other types of work rather than contributing. The best way to avoid daydreaming or people working on other things is to be to the point. You got to think about the value of a meeting, and if the meeting is pedalling on, you are not being productive in the slightest.
Consider Body Language
If you are presenting a meeting or even if you are attending one, having open body language will help you to be more engaged. Rather than sitting with your arms crossed or avoiding eye contact, having your arms at your sides or making eye contact with people will foster that sense of engagement. It's a careful balance to get right, but you can help to create a far more connected team.
Stick to the Agenda
Being focused is vital for a productive meeting. Many meetings run over because someone hasn't prepared their proposal properly, so they end up talking way too much. Meetings need to stick to an agenda, but these agendas also need to have a rough time limit. Keep the agenda in front of you, and this will help to keep things rolling along, so if a presentation becomes unfocused, you can redirect it back. Meetings are one of those things where it's tough to feel connected with one another, but if you really want to get meetings done, some of these components will help.
