OVERCOMING TEAM MEETING STAGNATION

One of the most important meetings in any business is the team meeting. This can be at the senior management level down to individual departments, units or workplace team meetings.

While this should be a valuable time for all involved, the team meeting is often dreaded by both the meeting leaders as well as the team. Everyone simply comes into the meeting room with the goal to get through the meeting, not to have to speak and to avoid being asked any questions.

Thankfully, there are several ways that team leaders can spice up team meetings to make them fun, engaging and interactive. When everyone enjoys coming to the team meeting, they are more productive and more insightful.

Team meetings become a place for problem-solving and creative solutions, as well as for everyone to see their role in the team and the success of the group.

Problem Solving as a Focus

The team leader creates a scenario of a situation that is a problem for the team. This is done without singling out any employee or leader but rather presented as a team problem.

Break the team into partners or small groups and have them generate at least two possible solutions to the problem.

The partners or small groups can then present their solution to the group, developing an interactive brainstorming session where all solutions are evaluated and discussed.

Bring in Topics of Interest to the Team

Thanks to smartphones or video conferencing, it is easy to have an off-site expert give a short talk during any meeting. Asking the team for topics and ideas is a simple way to ensure the team is engaged and interested.

It is also possible for the team members to each give a short presentation at a meeting. This can be on a topic of relevance for the work, but it can also be on something the team member has a passion, a hobby or an area of expertise.

This short 5-10 minute block of time helps to build in the sense of team, allowing people to get to know each other and to find common ground that can be essential in building a team culture.

Don’t forget, technology can also be used for corporate office leaders to recognize the team or to provide critical information. It can also be used to discuss issues between teams in different locations, which is a simple way to tap into solutions across a larger company.