Miniguide: More Engaging Meetings
You don’t need to be an expert facilitator to run engaging and active meetings. Here are five simple tips that can make a big difference:
In my usual longer courses on these topics, we dive deep, but I often get questions about the basics—so in this series of mini-guides, I’m keeping things light, simple, and packed with just the essentials for maximum impact! Like an espresso for the brain. Here we go:
Make it Relevant: It may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s surprisingly often overlooked. Make sure the topic matters to everyone. If it doesn’t, there’s not much you can do as a facilitator to spark true engagement.
Check-In with Participants: Start by asking everyone what they hope to get out of the meeting. This helps you gauge interest and expectations right from the start, and you can adjust the agenda if needed to better align with what people want.
Get Participants Involved: Turn the responsibility for engagement over to the group. Ask the team to come up with a few guidelines for a successful meeting. People will often suggest things like “open and honest communication” or “Being fully present” themselves. Halfway through, ask them to rate themselves on a scale of 1-10 based on how well they’re sticking to those guidelines, and encourage them to suggest ways to improve.
Limit One-Way Communication: Presentations are often necessary, but too many can drag a meeting down. Set time limits for any presentations, and limit the number of them. Or, if possible, try getting rid of them altogether and create more opportunities for interaction.
Mix Up Collaboration: Change up how people work together throughout the meeting. Don’t let everyone sit in the same formation the whole time. Try things like:
Have people reflect individually for a few minutes before sharing with the group.
Ask people to chat with a neighbour for a few minutes before reporting back.
Use walls or whiteboards for a quick brainstorming session.
Send people in groups of three for a walk and talk.
By mixing things up, you’ll keep your meetings dynamic and make sure everyone stays engaged!