We’ve all been there. That awkward staff meeting where everyone is being quiet and refraining from contributing to the conversation. You ask for feedback, and get met with a strained wall of silence, or even worse – blank stares.
Another common scenario is when one person takes it upon themselves to do all of the talking, leaving their colleagues to draw pictures on their notepads or twiddle their thumbs. Aren’t brainstorming sessions meant to be fun, productive and engaging? Shouldn’t everyone walk away from team meetings filled with energy, ready to take on the next big challenge?
If the ambiance at your workplace after a team meeting is sleepy as opposed to stirred, then it might be a good idea to explore some new facilitation strategies. By taking a short course in facilitation training, you may be able to learn some savvy techniques for inspiring even the most quiet of team members to speak up. Being a good facilitator is all about pointing your team members in the right direction and then keeping them on track. It sounds easy, but in reality this can be a bit of a hard task. It requires effective people management and facilitation skills, as well as a hearty dose of patience and perseverance!
talkforce offers a range of facilitation options that can help you fine-tune your abilities, such as “Creativity & Thinking Sessions” and “Facilitation Skills”.
In the meantime, here are a few ways that you can get more out of your meetings, brainstorms and corporate team building exercises.
Take a structured approach
As the old saying goes, “what you give is what you get”. If you go into a meeting and ask an open, general question, you may be met with blank stares or equally open, general answers. To get the most out of your staff, it’s a good idea to take a more structured approach to brainstorms.
Draw up an agenda and write a list of topics that you would like to discuss. You should also use this time to jot down probing questions. If you don’t get the response you want the first time you ask a question, then rephrase it and try again.
Recent research from the University of Alabama found that team meetings that are well-structured tend to produce better results than their impromptu counterparts. The researchers analysed the responses of 40 virtual teams of four, and found that those who were given guided, structured information prior to meetings were more productive. “Giving them guidance in what to talk about influences their ability to communicate together and perform together,” graduate student Kristin Wegner from the University of Alabama said.
Using the specific example of performance management, Ms Wegner added that effective communication was essential. “If you call them together to discuss their performance in a guided environment, it will improve. You have to put more training into communication.”
Could the secrets to improving workplace meetings really be as simple as free food and a thorough agenda? Why not give it a go and find out!
Free food for everyone!
Want a way to break the ice and help people to feel more relaxed? You can’t go past free food. Whether you provide a packet of biscuits, a fruit platter or a full spread of snacks and beverages, food is an excellent way to relax people.
In fact, a recent study by US and UK-based food delivery company Seamless, found that free food in the workplace can even contribute to increased employee motivation and retention. Seamless surveyed more than 1,000 professionals and approximately 60 per cent of respondents said that having food available at team building meetings would encourage them to participate. Vice president and general manager of Seamless’ corporate division Nick Worswick said that food is a relatively easy and inexpensive perk to offer to employees.
“Food remains a relatively untapped perk that companies can use to measurably improve employee retention and happiness and show their appreciation, while separating themselves from competitors,” Mr Worswick explained. “Free food all the time is unrealistic for most companies, but the occasional pizza party or afternoon treat goes a long way.”
So next time you have a meeting, why not crack open a bag of cookies and get brainstorming over a cup of tea?
Originally posted on the previous talkforce website. 29 April 2013.