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To make team meetings more interactive and thus offer the greatest benefit for all participants, we have put together 10 tips for you - for online and live meetings.
All mics on mute, camera images remain black. When team meetings start like this, it quickly becomes clear that it's going to be a lengthy online session with little to no participation from the participants. Equivalently, in an unpromising live meeting, participants sit with their arms folded deep in their chairs or play with their pens, lost in thought, instead of participating in the meeting.
These scenarios don't just mean yawning boredom for everyone. The content is also unlikely to get through to people's heads, let alone stick. After all, we already learned in school that those who actively participate take away the most input for themselves.
To make team meetings more interactive and thus offer the greatest benefit for all participants, we have put together 10 tips for you - for online and live meetings.
Not only when onboarding new team members (you can link to a subpage on onboarding here) does the following apply: The first impression counts. Accordingly, the atmosphere of the first minute is very decisive for the further course of the team meeting. If you start with what is going wrong and where there is trouble, the mood will hardly be lifted during the course of the meeting.
However, with a "positive round" you immediately start the team meeting interactively and in a good mood. To do this, you can start by asking a question in the round, which the participants answer one after the other. Everyone has exactly 30 seconds to answer.
These are good introductory questions for the positive round:
-What task have you just completed that you are really proud of?
-Which of the people present would you like to thank and for what?
-What are you looking forward to in the coming week?
-Which joke really made you laugh last time?
Did you notice? That's right, not all questions are purely professional or necessarily need to be answered in a business context. Sharing a little bit of private information melts the ice even faster at the beginning.
Especially in team meetings with a large number of participants, it can sometimes be difficult to get hold of the "speech scepter". At the same time, participants should be encouraged to take an active part in discussions. To ensure that the team meeting does not descend into chaos or oppressive silence, the 8 Statement Cards are an excellent way to keep the conversation going non-verbally. The "Yes" and "No" cards help with voting. If you want to praise a colleague's speech, use the "Great input!" or "Applause applause!" card. Even if you have to disappear for a moment, you don't have to interrupt the ongoing presentation. The corresponding statement card is placed in the corresponding stand, in front of the camera or on the table and everyone is informed.
Click here for Statement Cards for more interactive team meetings.
Have you ever counted the hours you spend sitting every day? After all, it's often not just the time spent in front of the screen; we also like to sit on the sofa, in a restaurant or in a pub after work. That's not healthy - we already know that. But it's also not particularly conducive to concentration. If you stand, you think better! You can also use this for your next team meeting and turn the "meeting" into a "standing meeting".
We have often observed that team meetings are more dynamic and productive when we are standing. This not only wakes up the body and mind, but also ensures that we reach our goals more quickly - and are finally allowed to sit down again.
The longer and more detail-focused the team meeting becomes, the more the team's participation decreases. If the only topic for minutes is whether the coffee machine should be to the left or right of the microwave, the participants will gradually switch off.
Instead of discussing everything down to the smallest detail, the goal should be to achieve a good intermediate state. A simple question helps keep the focus on what's important: "Good Enough, Move On?" If the majority agrees that the result so far is sufficient for the moment, it is time to move on to the next agenda item of the team meeting. The so-called GEMO principle therefore saves an incredible amount of time. In addition, it promotes concentration by only dwelling on a topic until the most important point has been clarified.
The GEMO principle thus follows the Pareto principle. This states that 20% of the time often brings 80% of the desired yield. The last 20 %, which it still needs to reach the goal, thus eat up a whole 80 % of the total time required! In order to achieve results quickly and save the participants from falling asleep, it is worth asking the question: "Is this enough, can we continue?
With attention bingo, you also increase concentration during the team meeting. In addition, there is a special fun factor here. This original version of the classic bingo game is a great way to occupy dull team meetings.
We all know the usual phrases, especially those that are never missing from an online meeting: "Can you hear me?", "Actually, it should be working now" or "I'm still charging".
Before the team meeting, each participant receives a sheet of attention bingo. Whenever a phrase is used, it is crossed out. The first person to cross out all the boxes on their sheet is the winner. Distracted thoughts, checking social media for a moment - no one will want to afford these inattentions anymore.
The moderation of a team meeting can, on the one hand, prevent it from getting out of hand into endless discussions. On the other hand, it can motivate everyone to participate in the meeting. As a moderator, you can commit to the task of adhering to the GEMO principle (see Tip 4). But there are many other tasks that facilitators need to perform: introducing new or external participants, presenting agendas, sharing presentations, monitoring chat, solving technology problems, keeping track of time, etc.
To make sure you don't get in over your head, it's a good idea to co-facilitate. This role could be reassigned from meeting to meeting. Ideally, you should agree beforehand who will do what. This way you can keep track of everything and make sure that all participants have their say and can participate interactively in the meeting.
Breaks are as important as the working hours themselves. This also applies to team meetings. Very long meetings in particular should be interrupted in between so that everyone can catch their breath. While an on-site break room can be used for relaxed small talk in team meetings, a technical solution is needed for online meetings.
Special break rooms that are integrated into the video tool are suitable for this purpose. It is even possible to brand them in the company's CI design!
Of course, the primary purpose of the break is to relax. A little chat among colleagues and the exchange of the latest gossip strengthen the team feeling. However, break rooms can also be used for tasks in smaller groups. For example, colleagues can reflect on the previous team meeting together and write down questions or work on small tasks that are later compiled in a large group.
Eating together connects. If you want something different from the dry cookies in the middle of the table or the team members are sitting in front of the screen in the home office, the online event boxes are the perfect solution. With tasty and healthy snacks, trendy drinks and, if desired, funny or practical gimmicks, you can create a relaxed atmosphere that makes the team meeting interactive.
You have the choice: Order ready-configured boxes or put together your boxes individually. Branding in the CI design is also possible.
Anticipation is the best joy. What if an exciting team event was waiting for your participants right after the team meeting? We are sure - and know from experience - that the meeting will be even more efficient and interactive with this prospect. After all, everyone has a common goal to look forward to.
For example, following the team meeting, your team could be treated to a fun evening of trivia or a private concert by a live band. Interactive workshops such as juggling or painting together as "teamBILDing" are also possible. Let yourself be inspired!
But the beauty of these modules for your team meeting or team event is not only that they encourage more interaction. They also strengthen team cohesion and show your appreciation towards all participants. You'll still feel that at the next team meeting!
The team meeting is over and it went - thanks to our great tips 😉
- quite wonderful. And now sit back and wait for the next meeting? That would be a mistake! What is common practice in sales is unfortunately all too often forgotten in one's own team: follow-up.
Ideally, you ask your team members for feedback right after the team meeting. In online meetings, for example, this can be done by filling out a feedback survey on the screen. This will help you to improve future team meetings.
You can also send a recording of the meeting so that everyone can keep track of the to-dos and measures discussed. In this way, you can thank everyone for their participation. This does you good and shows that you don't take anyone for granted.
Especially practical: Send an abbreviated audio version of the team meeting as a podcast. You can listen to it quickly on your way to work. Because quite honestly, hardly anyone will watch a long video recording of the team meeting.
If you have ensured that the team members feel appreciated after your meeting, they will start the interaction at the next team meeting with even more enthusiasm.
You would like more tips on the subject of appreciation, new work ...
Give your employees and customers the appreciation they deserve!
