Zoom fatigue—it’s a real thing. Many people had never even used the platform before the pandemic, but virtual meetings have become as common as your morning coffee these days.
And for many newly-remote teams, these typical, redundant meetings are starting to become a cause for dread.
So, this leaves you with two options:
- Find ways to make your virtual meetings better
- Invest some time, effort, and resources into getting your remote or hybrid team together for an in-person meeting
Whichever of these two options you choose, we’ve got some tips to help you plan great meetings like a pro.
Virtual Meetings: Making Them Less Dreadful
The reality is that as long as people are working remotely or as part of a hybrid team, virtual meetings will happen. They’re easy and convenient, but can lack engagement and personal connection.
So what’s a leader to do?
Here are some virtual meeting tips to make them less boring:
- Make it fun: It’s a work meeting, sure, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add some fun to your Zoom meetings. Consider playing games, creating a theme, or changing up your background to keep it light and playful.
- Make it concise: A long meeting is a boring meeting—there, we said it. So, stick to the agenda and don’t keep people around for longer than needed.
- Make it efficient: Another major downside to virtual meetings is the technical difficulties. It can add time, frustration, and can make people impatient. That’s why it’s important that the team has the right equipment, such as a good webcam for Zoom.
- Make it interactive: Virtual meetings can feel like a one-way presentation. That’s why participation and collaboration are essential. There are tools such as Zoom whiteboards that make this easier.
Virtual meetings are an effective tool when you can’t meet with your team in person. To keep them engaging, focus on introducing fun, making them short and efficient, and using tools to encourage interaction.
In-Person Meetings: Get Your Hybrid Team Back Together
As we put the pandemic behind us, more and more teams are up for meeting in person again. There are many benefits to this, including:
- Clear communication
- Team bonding
- Creative brainstorming
But, if you haven’t hosted an in-person meeting for a while, or if you’ve never assembled your remote team for one, here are some in-person meeting planning tips to make the most out of your time together:
- Be clear: The pandemic is still top-of-mind for many people. So it’s important to be clear on any COVID-19 policies (i.e. wearing a mask or physical distancing) going into the meeting if this applies to your workplace.
- Make introductions: It’s possible that some team members haven’t even met in person yet! So, make sure to spend time on personal introductions—perhaps with a game or icebreaker—so everyone can get to know each other.
- Encourage participation: For hybrid teams, meeting in person might not be natural and normal. And for those who are a bit quieter, it may be tough to speak up. So, encourage everyone to participate and make space for everyone’s voice to be heard.
- Find a professional space: Even if you don’t have your own office space anymore, it’s important to create the optimal physical environment to host a meeting. Private, quiet, and flexible meeting rooms are a great option for remote teams to meet.
- Work hard, play hard. Focus on creating an effective and efficient in-person meeting—one that follows the agenda and leaves everyone with the next steps. Then, have some fun! You could go for a meal or happy hour together, or just spend some time socializing after the meeting. This can go a long way to bond the team and keep some energy moving forward into subsequent remote work.
All signs indicate that hybrid teams are going to be the way of the future. But that doesn’t mean you should suffer through boring old virtual meetings. So, whether you opt for Zoom meetings or getting together in-person, it’s key to make sure the meeting is enjoyable and productive.
If you’re looking for a fully-appointed meeting space for your hybrid team, book a tour of your local Launch Workplace today.
