In-person meetings can be widely productive due to the fact they can create better human connections between employees. But, for virtual meetings, the whole system can fall prey to the effects of fewer engagements and collaborations. Yet, there are several benefits as well as issues that employees and companies face during remote meetings. But, if there is will is a way, and those who are willing to change this format and make things better for their institution must follow these rules to gain better engagement in their remote meetings.
1. Break the Ice and Acquire Engagement
Whether it is an in-person meeting or an online meeting, it can be uncomfortable if the ice is not broken in the first few minutes. As a leader or a host, you should be a person willing to count on humor to break the ice rather than walking on thin ice. This of something small ice-breaking activates to make your employees closer and more engaged in a meeting.
- Add Humor Bulletin - Adding humor during your online meetings can be extremely useful. It can increase the engagement level. It is better to start with a clean slate every morning. And you can ask your team members to add something quirky or funny to start with the day and this daily scrapbook can be very helpful.
- Add Bucket List Bulletin - You can add a bulletin where people can state their bucket list. Your employees can write down some of the wishes they have on their bucket list.
- Make an Agenda - Long meetings can boring and keeping it to the point has to be the utmost priority if you are willing to engage especially. Along with humor and a bucket list, you also have to make an exclusive list for yourself, which will help to stay on track and proceed faster to the ultimate goal you have been planning for this meeting.
These are some of the ice-breaking and engagement-building aspects that you use to make your employees more attentive and compelled to see what you have to say this time. Being repetitive might not be a good idea but being humorous and to the point might be effective for remote meetings.
2. Understand Your Participants
For a productive meeting, you will have to understand your participants as well. Some might not be as comfortable as others to share their views and thoughts properly. A meeting ideally will have 4 sorts of people in it, whether it is an offline meeting or an online meeting.
- Introverts - People who will hardly talk and will not speak until you call out their names.
- Extroverts - People who can’t stop talking and will require a “shut up” to make them stop talking.
- Practical-Minded - The non-creative people always state the facts without foreseeing what can be done and how they can realize it. Patting their back will not get the job done; they will need facts and eventually help to get the job done.
- Creative Minds - They are members of your creative teams and they will always require a boost or encouragement to thrive.
A meeting will have these sorts of people in it, and for remote meetings, you will have to work harder to make everyone feel included and well-appreciated if you are willing to get the job done.
3. Essential Tools for Virtual Meetings are Video Meetings, Mind maps, and Online Whiteboards.
4. The Roles Every Participant will Play are
- Leader - The responsible person for hosting the session
- Collator - Every participant will bring something new to the table and for that one has to be the one writing everything down
- Timekeeper - One will keep track of the time, a meeting cannot be an all-day-long affair, and that is why one has to keep track of the time.
It is also essential that you arrange for a post-meeting follow-up. And also email everything that has been stated in that meeting. After which you will have to share additional steps to achieve the goal. Along with this, you will have to assign everything to the person in need.
