Energy drinks are the most popular today. Every convenience retailer in America has a cooler stuffed with bottles that contain Red Bull, Rock Star, and Monster. People are engaged and energized; however, everyday business is full of dull, boring meetings that are not productive and boring. Meetings are an essential part of business, yet they are almost everyone considers them to be a necessity.’ However, it shouldn’t be this way. Bring energy to your meetings by removing these barriers.
Disrespect – Blank faces. Arms crossed. Eyes are turned away. Everyone was disengaged in an event. If they feel disregarded and not appreciated, They shut down. They may attend an appointment out of obligation but not because they want to. Negative energy can lead to adverse outcomes. The Care Works Family of Companies, located in Columbus, Ohio, was voted as one of the top places to be employed in 2008 by central Ohio. CEO William Pfeiffer creates a culture of respect. When respect is shown to each other, the result is more cooperation and engagement.
Inattention Minds will wander during meetings. Employees could be distracted by many issues, whether professional or personal. It’s inevitable. Humans aren’t perfect and live in a world in which multitasking is a good trait. If employees are disengaged and distracted by the meeting for the majority time, You have to ask whether it’s actually the event and not the participants. To keep them engaged, you must have a clearly defined, precise, and clearly stated purpose for the gathering. The facilitator must ask, “What specifically are we trying to achieve during this gathering?” and then guide everyone focused on what they are trying to accomplish. Do not let distracted minds, cellphones, or text messages distract you from your overall purpose. When everyone is in alignment and focused on achieving the goals, collective energy is directed like a laser beam towards the goal.
There are a handful of people who participate in my work environment. Julie seldom, if ever, is in a meeting. It’s not because she’s not interested. She’s engaged. However, when we meet one after another, we ignore any ideas she might offer and follow the voice of the majority…to our own demise. If everyone is part of the conversation, it’s much more enjoyable. It’s no secret that certain people are more verbal while others think internally. The issue is that we often place the most significant influence on the ones that speak the first speak the most often. But groups can be more effective by ensuring that the perspective of each member of the team is taken into consideration. The range of opinions and feedback keeps members from making ill-informed decisions. To bring everyone together during a conference in just five minutes, you must have everyone talk about something. It could be as simple as “Let’s take a seat around the table to share your most memorable experience today.” Give the participants a few minutes to think about their answer and then let every one, in fact, everyone, share their thoughts. If, at the time during the discussion, you’d like to get feedback regarding an upcoming initiative or decision, ensure that you allow a minute or two for participants to record their thoughts prior to sharing their ideas with the group.
The bottom line is to energize every meeting by actively including everyone, having a clear goal, and establishing an environment of respect and acceptance.
