Episode 159
8 Ways to Make Your Next Meeting More Engaging
Meetings are an important part of working and collaborating together but they can also be a huge bore, a timesuck and frankly a waste of time if people aren’t engaged in the meeting, or invested in the people at the table or the outcome.
With most executives spending on average 23 hours a week in meetings, shouldn’t we try to make them more fun, engaging and purposeful?
Listen in for 8 ways to make your next meeting more engaging.
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Julie Brown:
Transcript
I will.
Speaker:100% admit that in my career.
Speaker:Well, I have most definitely fallen asleep in a meeting or two.
Speaker:Either out of our exhaustion boredom, lack of interest.
Speaker:In the matter at hand, I have certainly nodded off a few times.
Speaker:My head snapping back to attention only after the
Speaker:signature head Bob has given away.
Speaker:My nap time.
Speaker:Welcome to episode 1 59 of this shit works.
Speaker:A podcast dedicated to all things, networking, relationship
Speaker:building and business development.
Speaker:I'm your host, Julie Brown.
Speaker:Speaker author and networking coach.
Speaker:And today I'm discussing eight ways to make your meetings more engaging.
Speaker:You know, So people don't fall asleep in them.
Speaker:Meetings.
Speaker:Yes, they are an important part of working in collaborating together, but they
Speaker:can also be a huge bore, a time suck.
Speaker:And frankly, a waste of time if people aren't engaged in the meeting or invested
Speaker:in the people at the table or the outcome.
Speaker:So according to a recent article in Forbes written by Glen Taylor.
Speaker:Here are eight ways to turn up the fun factor and the energy in your meetings.
Speaker:And because this is a, this shit work short episode, I'm not going to
Speaker:elaborate too much on the ways, but there is a link to the full article in
Speaker:the show notes so that you can delve in on each of these in more detail.
Speaker:Okay.
Speaker:Here we go.
Speaker:One.
Speaker:Pump up the jams or bring on the tunes, playing some music at the beginning
Speaker:of a meeting can create a lively atmosphere and spark fun conversations.
Speaker:Remember, we just did an entire podcast on nostalgia.
Speaker:And what is more nostalgic?
Speaker:Then music.
Speaker:So start using it.
Speaker:To begin with an icebreaker.
Speaker:Icebreakers do not have to be cringe.
Speaker:They can be a fun way to get to know your coworkers.
Speaker:And here's a tip pro tip to make it easier and more fun for everyone.
Speaker:Let the attendees know that there will be an icebreaker question, like
Speaker:in way in advance of the meeting.
Speaker:So if your meeting's on Thursday, tell them on Tuesday, Hey, we're
Speaker:going to start with this icebreaker question so that everybody has
Speaker:an answer prepared in advance.
Speaker:And so no one is like feeling like they're.
Speaker:I put on the spot and can't come up with an answer.
Speaker:This is super fun.
Speaker:Give it to them a couple of days in advance.
Speaker:Three.
Speaker:Game-ify it.
Speaker:Participants are more likely to actively participate, collaborate, and retain
Speaker:information when they are immersed in a game like environment, making
Speaker:the meeting more fun and memorable.
Speaker:Four.
Speaker:Dropping a dad joke.
Speaker:Starting the meeting with a dad joke can lighten the mood and relieve tension.
Speaker:Uh, one to get you started.
Speaker:Okay, here you go.
Speaker:After an unsuccessful harvest.
Speaker:Why did the farmer decide to try a career in music?
Speaker:Because he had a ton of sick beats.
Speaker:I want one more.
Speaker:Yes, you do.
Speaker:Okay, where do pirates?
Speaker:Get their hooks?
Speaker:Where, where.
Speaker:At a secondhand store.
Speaker:Okay.
Speaker:Moving right along.
Speaker:Oh, five.
Speaker:Use gifs or memes to emphasize a point.
Speaker:We actually talked about this in the episode on why your
Speaker:email second, how to change him.
Speaker:And we talked about how memes and gifts are great ways to bond with
Speaker:your coworkers, overshared humor.
Speaker:So in a meeting these elements, add a touch of humor relate-ability
Speaker:and creativity capturing participants' attention and
Speaker:making the content more memorable.
Speaker:Six.
Speaker:Tell a quick story.
Speaker:Sharing a brief and relevant, personal or anecdotal story can captivate
Speaker:participants' attention and bring a human element to the meeting.
Speaker:Seven.
Speaker:Do some group brainstorming group brainstorming, stimulates creativity,
Speaker:promotes diverse perspectives and generates innovative solutions.
Speaker:Ultimately making the meeting more productive, interactive, and fun.
Speaker:And finally eight incorporate something crafty or creative
Speaker:participants can engage in hands-on activities like visual note-taking.
Speaker:Mind mapping or a collaborative artwork.
Speaker:These activities, tap into different learning styles, encourage active
Speaker:participation and provide creative outlets for expressing ideas.
Speaker:All right, so there you have it.
Speaker:Eight ways to have less shitty meetings.
Speaker:Well, since this is a, this shit work short episode, there
Speaker:isn't a drink of the week.
Speaker:Just pour yourself a beer, a glass of wine, or a cocktail or a Setser
Speaker:a mocktail, whatever you want.
Speaker:And just enjoy the last few weeks of summer.
Speaker:Because before you know, it, it will be all back to business.
Speaker:But with any luck you will have less terrible meetings after this.
Speaker:All right, friends.
Speaker:That's all for this week.
Speaker:If you like what you heard today, please leave a review.
Speaker:If you have not.
Speaker:I left a review.
Speaker:If you listen to this podcast and you have not left a review, please leave a review.
Speaker:Also, please remember to share the podcast to help it reach a larger audience.
Speaker:If you want more, Julie Brown, you can find my book.
Speaker:This shit works on Amazon or Barnes and noble.
Speaker:You can find me on LinkedIn, actually brown BD.
Speaker:Just let me know where you found me.
Speaker:When you reach out.
Speaker:I am Julie Brown underscore BD on the Instagram, or you can
Speaker:popping over to my website.
Speaker:Julie bam BD.
Speaker:Dot com.
Speaker:Until next week.
