{"id":2521,"date":"2024-01-24T11:34:42","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T11:34:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sterlingforbusiness.co.uk\/?p=2521"},"modified":"2024-01-31T12:35:50","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T12:35:50","slug":"spice-up-your-virtual-team-meetings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sterlingforbusiness.co.uk\/blog\/spice-up-your-virtual-team-meetings\/","title":{"rendered":"Spice up your virtual team meetings."},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
Make your virtual team meetings better than ever with 5 easy steps, based on our learner-centred training techniques, and change the dynamics of your online meetings forever\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\r\n <\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A quick look at the work calendar and there it is \u2026 the virtual, weekly team meeting.\u00a0\u00a0Nobody, NOBODY puts their video or mic on any more and you have a sneaky suspicion that people catch up on their emails and WhatsApps.\u00a0\u00a0As long as they\u2019ve had a quick peek at \u2018the agenda\u2019 (quick list in the calendar invitation), you\u2019re happy. Its 45-minutes of everyone\u2019s time which has to be endured, it\u2019s no easier for you.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Managers and teams are missing out on the massive benefits available from regular team meetings, which should just be about keeping everyone updated. How about using them for:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Here are some simple tweaks, based on our learner-centred training techniques, to change the dynamics of your online meeting in 5 easy steps.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n First of all, think carefully as to why the meeting is being held and what the expected outcomes are.\u00a0\u00a0Hopefully, the reason is to share knowledge\/ important information and build team cohesion. If it\u2019s in the calendar because you have always had a team meeting at that time, think again.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Communicate clearly who needs to be there and what they\u2019ll get out of it.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Once you\u2019ve set the\u00a0who\u00a0<\/strong>and the\u00a0what<\/strong>, a slightly provocative approach could be to say that the meetings are optional.\u00a0\u00a0This way, the people who attend probably want to be there and, then it\u2019s your duty to make it worthwhile for them.\u00a0\u00a0It does mean that clear notes and outcomes of the meeting need to be distributed afterwards to keep the team informed.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If you and your team haven\u2019t achieved anything by attending, it\u2019s a very expensive waste of 45 minutes!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n 2. Videos and mics ON.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Who is \u2018The Legend\u201d? Would anyone recognise them if they came into the building? What do they do? Building team cohesion starts with knowing who is in the team as well as what they look like, so they are colleagues not strangers. Some teams are spread around the country or even the world and you need to maximise the opportunities for encouraging people to feel part of the team need to be maximised.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Observing facial expressions and body language are vital parts of communication and this is even more important on virtual platforms.\u00a0\u00a0You need to see your team\u2019s reactions to key information and it\u2019s a great way to see if they\u2019re engaged and looking well.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Having the mic on, ready to respond or ask a question is important.\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s amazing how slow people are to find the mic button and actually miss (maybe avoid) the opportunity to contribute just because they have put themselves on mute.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n *Do apply common sense.\u00a0\u00a0I had someone who couldn\u2019t put his video on for a meeting because he was working at a forensic crime scene\u2026we all WANTED him to turn it on, but for obvious reasons he couldn\u2019t. However, he did get extra points for attending the meeting and actively participating, despite being under extreme pressure!<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\r\n