American-based businesses spend nearly $400 billion a year on meetings.
For most business owners, meetings are something they invest in to ensure everyone is on the same page. However, failing to properly plan or structure these meetings will usually result in mistakes being made.
The worst thing you can do as a business owner is to have a boring meeting. If members of your team are bored during a meeting, they will have a problem retaining the information they are being provided. This is why finding ways to inject a bit of life into these meetings is so important.
Here are some of the things you can do to make your business meetings more engaging and entertaining.
1. Not All Meetings Need to be Face to Face
Some business owners have a tendency to avoid change. Abiding by the “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” philosophy can become problematic at times. If you are holding onto the idea that all meetings need to be held in a conference room, it is time to update your way of thinking.
In reality, your team may find it more relaxing and less stressful if they were allowed to attend these meetings remotely. Instead of the usual huddle over the conference room table, Holding meetings with the help of either video conferencing software or the conference fall feature on your business telephone system can be beneficial.
There are plenty of companies on the market that offer free conference call options. This means you can conduct these meetings without having to invest a lot of money.
2. A Change of Venue Can Help You Avoid a Boring Meeting
If you would rather conduct your meetings face to face, think about changing up the venue. Meeting in the same conference room time and time again can make these get-togethers bland. This is why surprising your workers with a change of venue is crucial.
The new venue can be a backroom at a popular restaurant or even an outdoor space in your area. The main goal you should have when choosing a new venue is that it accommodates you and your employees well.
Getting some input from your team regarding where they want to meet is also a great idea. Keeping your team engaged will be easier if you ask for and value their input.
3. Have a Plan of Attack
Scheduling meetings that really have no purpose can be frustrating for your team. You should only host these get togethers when there are pressing issues that need to be discussed.
Before you schedule these meetings, sit down and develop a game plan. Properly structuring these meetings can help you avoid forgetting about important subjects. A plan of action will also help you avoid wasting time, which your employees will love.
Plan a Great Meeting
The best way to avoid a boring meeting is by taking the time to plan out every detail. With the help of your staff, planning and executing great meetings will be possible.
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