Not all meetings are created equal. And if you thought it was hard to run a meeting when everyone was in-person and sitting around a table, it's even more difficult when some (or all!) you team is virtual.
Which leaves the question: How can group leaders make their meetings more engaging?
Interaction is key in any meeting setting, but especially so when it comes to groups. Engaging your attendees and getting them involved helps ensure the meeting will be productive and useful. From icebreakers to trivia games, there are plenty of ways to get your attendees engaged and participating! Let's take a look at different activities and tools you can use to make your group meetings more interactive.
"This could be an email" could be the motto of today's workforce. Because, let's be honest, we've all been in meetings that were a complete waste of time. Before we look at activities and tools to increase meeting interaction, it's important to know what we like to call meeting etiquette.
When you're calling a group together for a meeting, make sure you have a clear agenda. Even better, get that agenda into the hands of those attending so they know what to expect.
Also, once you have an agenda, you should have a pretty clear idea of who needs to be in that meeting. If you only need a few specific people, don't invite the whole team. Get those you need together so you can get in and out as effectively as possible.
If your meeting was set to assign tasks, end the meeting by going over specific action items for everyone there. This reiterates the people in the meeting are there for a reason.
Finally, set a schedule and stick with it. Let your group know you respect their time by keeping an eye on the time.
One way to get people interacting is to start with an icebreaker. This can be anything from a simple question-and-answer game to something more interactive like charades, or organize a quick virtual game with us to set the tone. The goal is to get people talking and present, so choose an activity that will fit the group size and meeting expectations.
A great way to show you care about your team is to start the meeting with a brief wellness check-in. This can be as simple as going around the room and asking everyone how they're doing or if there's anything on their mind.
If you have a larger group, you can break into smaller teams and have each team share one positive and one negative from the week. This helps to ensure everyone has a chance to speak up and be heard.