If you’re considering using online meetings to hold business meetings, there are several steps you can take to make the experience more engaging. Some of these steps include thinking outside the box, using visuals, and giving your team time to socialize. You can also record your meetings. Here are five ideas to help you improve the experience of your online meetings.
Think outside the box
Whether you hold meetings in a physical location, on the phone, or over the Internet, it is important to think outside of the box to make the experience more interesting. While you may not be able to create the same level of engagement with your colleagues as you can in person, there are ways to make virtual meetings more engaging.
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For example, consider using an icebreaker game to get employees interacting with each other. Games such as Two Truths and a Lie are great for boosting teamwork. These can be played anywhere, whether in a coffee shop, park, or even a co-working space. Using a game like Two Truths and a Lie also allows employees to learn about one another’s hobbies and interests.
Use visuals
Using visuals during virtual meetings can help participants stay focused and connected, even if they can’t see the presenter. Visuals also help teams align, which helps participants retain more knowledge. Here are a few examples of how you can use visuals in your online meetings.
Visuals are an excellent way to illustrate ideas. They have been proven to increase audience engagement and memory, and they also break up the monotony of reading slides. They can also be used to provide context or illustrate a point. Ultimately, visuals make online meetings more memorable. Incorporating visuals in your presentations will increase the impact and productivity of your meetings.
Visuals can be as simple as virtual whiteboard tools, shared documents, or virtual graphic recordings. You can also use online sticky notes to provide visual cues. Some of the best virtual tools are Zoom and Miro. Using these tools, attendees can rename themselves or raise their hands, while drawing on paper can also provide a visual indicator for attendees.
Give team members time to socialize
Whether the team is based in the same physical location or virtually, it is important for employees to get the opportunity to socialize. This boosts morale and strengthens bonds among coworkers. Allowing team members time to socialize during online meetings is a great way to simulate the traditional office atmosphere. It can also help remote workers cope with loneliness.
One way to encourage socialization is to share fun facts about the team members. You can use this time to initiate conversations that will lead to friendships. You can also make use of mobile apps like Houseparty to play social games with your team members.
Record meetings
Record meetings to make online meetings more engaging: If you want to make your online meetings more interesting, you need to make the meetings as interesting as possible. This may include practicing your introductions and ground rules. You should also review the engagement process and make sure that all participants are identified by name. Don’t hold long meetings – most meetings should last about an hour.
Recording a meeting will allow you to access the recording and review it whenever you need it. You can also share the recording with a colleague or team member who isn’t able to attend the meeting. You should notify your attendees beforehand so that they can be prepared for it.