How to Prepare for Your Online Meeting Following virtual meeting tips can make your meeting a success. (Image source: Envato Elements) Here are some more useful tips on how to conduct an online meeting: 1. Make Sure It Needs to Be a Meeting. Would your online meeting work better as an email? If so, send an email, and skip the meeting altogether. Virtual meetings are a key part in the lives of project managers today. The trouble is that they are often difficult to handle and most conference calls, audio conferences, and online meetings are frustrating timewasters. This paper outlines the seven secrets that project managers need to know to have successful virtual meetings, based on the author's work with hundreds of project managers.
In the era of virtual offices, online companies and remote work teams, hosting meetings or conferences that allow audience members to connect and interact in meaningful ways is more important than ever. That may be one reason that today’s event planners are focusing more and more on creating experiences rather than just organising meetings.
In fact, 75% of meeting planners say that their role involves more “experience creation” than it did just two or five years ago, according to findings in IACC’s recent 'Meeting Room of the Future' report.
What exactly does it mean to create an experience? For one thing, it goes beyond filling a conference agenda with expert speakers, intriguing slide presentations and interactive Q&A sessions. It means immersing participants in new activities that incorporate all their senses: sight, smell, taste, touch and sound.
According to the IACC report, “ Conference and meeting venue operators are addressing their client’s needs by offering meeting rooms that are designed to foster creativity (86%), themed food (67%) and beverage and ice-breakers (67%).”
Other common elements that venue operators say they offer to assist with “experience creation” are: outdoor meeting spaces, team building, sporting activities, or destinations-based activities.
A feast for the senses
Our senses provide direct pathways to our emotions. And science confirms that the stronger the emotions connected to an experience are, the stronger the recall of it later will be. (Reference)
Consider how the smell of baking can trigger memories of your grandmother’s house, or fresh cut grass might remind you of a childhood summer.
“People remember only 15% of what they hear,” said Dianne Devitt, creative consultant, event producer, speaker and author of the book What color is your event? “But the senses have over 85% recall. So when you have true meeting design that incorporates a complete sensory experience, then you actually create a lasting impact and memories.”
The key to creating an engaging experience, then, is to incorporate all of the senses and address all of the attendees’ needs: intellectual, social, physical and emotional. That includes adding activities, spaces or timing that lets people open up and have fun. It’s in these moments of fun when the excitement starts and engagement happens.
This extends to breaks, as well. IACC found that interactive breaks merging refreshments with teambuilding are becoming more common and are “a much more effective way to revive your attendee’s senses and reconnect their engagement.”
Furthermore, IACC’s report identified networking as a crucial element, and found that allowing time and space for people to connect and form relationships is an important part of the meeting experience. “If the program does not allow for these connections to take place, the value of the meeting is undermined,” said one respondent.
Give permission to play
“Giving people permission to play is an important element in creating a successful meeting experience,” added Devitt. “This is the adult version of being in a sandbox. Meeting delegates need to know it’s OK to speak to other people, to share their ideas and have a little fun.”
Another important aspect of creating a successful experience is adding an element of surprise. Surprise can be inserted in various ways from changing the way food is served (such using a cultural tradition that ties to the theme) to adding unexpected styles of entertainment, music, décor or activities. An unanticipated performance or change in activity can stimulate renewed interest and elevate the meeting from a typical conference to a memorable experience.
Focus on the goals
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To have a successful experience, however, it’s important to keep the goals of the meeting in mind. Surprise without reason will not be successful.
“The number one mistake I see is not having a clear purpose or agenda and not working toward specific goals,” said Tim Chudley, Managing Director of the Sundial Group, an event-planning company based in Northamptonshire, UK.
Always make sure the meeting has a clearly defined objective and that every element of the experience is crafted around it. Develop a theme that supports the objectives and make sure everything you plan stays in step with the theme. The meeting theme creates the element of unity that ties the entire conference together as a unique experience.
“There is a fine line between delivering an engaging experience and distraction,” said Devitt. “People who aren’t experience designers or who don’t understand organisational behaviour and the psychology of human behaviour may try to do too much. That can be a disaster.” The wrong timing, too few breaks, lack of social interaction or not enough down time can leave people drained and dampen the effect of the overall experience.
Other mistakes organisers make include having too many delegates, too little fresh air, daylight or walking, having the wrong foods at breaks, or providing too much coffee and not enough water.
“Most mistakes can be avoided by better planning, consulting experienced planners and using a venue that understands that particular type of meeting need and scope of requirements,” continues Chudley.
Ideas for creating experiences
Here are 10 ideas we think are inspired (and inspiring).
Team-building exercises. Team-building activities are a core component of any good experience-driven event. These can include activities that conference attendees do together as part of a session or specific tasks focused on group cooperation, such as solving a puzzle, creating a skit, interviewing each other about childhood dreams or brainstorming new ideas to present later. Luckily, according to IACC’s research, more than 38% of venue operators say they offer team-building activities on site and another 58% provide a combination of on- and offsite team building.
Outdoor or unusual experiences. Group sessions incorporating volunteering, physical activities, casual outings or shared meals not only promote team building but also lift a conference from ordinary to the level of experience creation. Outdoor space at a meeting venue was reported as important by 63% of IACC research respondents. Using this approach, you might have the entire group try a new experience, such as a Segway tour of an Old Town, aerial yoga (also called anti-gravity yoga), learning to blow glass or cooking a meal (tied to your theme, of course).
Secrecy-based events or surprise activities. The exact location, venue or theme for a particular session might not be known in advance, or components are revealed as the meeting unfolds. There may be a series of lectures in which presentations are given in undisclosed locations fashioned as clandestine meetings or secrete societies with passwords to enter. How fun to uncover the clues about your next secret session.
Personalised presentations. In these “silent” meetings, attendees wear headphones so they can all be in a single lecture room but hear individual lectures or different content. This can be useful, for example, on a noisy trade show floor, or to let delegates rotate through content presentations in smaller groups.
Project-based events. A different sort of meeting experience might involve having the group create something tangible by the end of the conference. Each session is designed to move the participants through the creation process one step at a time, with unique activities or new approaches introduced as they move along. Instructional sessions are intermixed with active sessions where attendees put what is learned into practice. For example, a marketing group might create a new brand campaign, programmers a new game, administrators a new process or framework.
Live conferences. In this re-imagination of the conference, there are no PowerPoint presentations, lectures or speeches, only live demos, hands-on sessions, Q&As, interviews or rich content. Participants might move through booths or rooms in a prescribed order or at-will, but have a list of sessions to complete by the end. In fact, meeting planners surveyed by IACC said live event streaming was now common in their events and the meeting experience needed to be considered for those attending remotely as well as for those turning up to the event.
Peer-driven meetings. This sort of conference puts the attendees in charge of the content. The purpose is to harness the expertise of the participants to create a unique “of the moment” event. Attendees might write topics they’re interested in on boards, consolidate the topics, and then form discussion groups. Any participant who wants to start a discussion on a topic can claim a time and space.
Pecha Kucha presentations. This fast presentation style was devised in Tokyo in 2003 and involves a simple presentation format where speakers show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. The images advance automatically and speakers talk along with the images. Think elevator pitch combined with karaoke.
Breakout groups. This meeting format taps into the collective knowledge of participants to help them gain a deeper understanding of the subject and issues. The meeting starts with an introduction and then breaks participants into smaller groups for a specific time-limited discussion, and then back together for each group to share thoughts.
Fishbowl conversation. In this session, two or three chairs are filled with guest panellists and one chair is left empty for audience members. Any member of the audience can, at any time, occupy the empty chair and join the fishbowl panel. The discussion continues with participants frequently entering and leaving the fishbowl panel until the time is up. Then the moderator summarises the discussion.
What unique experience creation ideas do you have? Let us know.
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As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread, few industries remain unscathed – and virtual meetings have become an essential part of how modern businesses maintain productivity and continuity. They’re an easy, cost-effective way to align multiple offices, keep remote employees engaged and work with clients and vendors.
While virtual meetings have likely been a part of your daily work routine for some time now, it’s still easy to fall victim to some major meeting faux pas. Virtual meeting etiquette is a whole new ball game compared to in-person meetings, as many folks are learning this week!
To help you keep your meetings productive and professional, follow these seven simple virtual meeting etiquette rules and tips.
1. Leave the keyboard alone
Whether you’re diligently taking notes like a model employee or sneakily chatting with your work bestie, the sound of your typing is distracting. It’s not only distracting everyone else in the meeting (because your laptop’s internal microphone is inches away from your keyboard), it’s also preventing you from devoting your full attention to the meeting. Opt for a quality headset or pick up your notebook and pen to take meeting notes instead.
Product tip: Let GoToMeeting take notes for you! Our Smart Assistant automatically transcribes meetings so you can focus on what’s being said – not what to write. After your meeting, you can easily search for keywords in the text of your meeting transcription and share the content with a link.
2. Dress appropriately
One of the magical things about working remotely is the freedom to wear anything to work. It’s the dream, right? Still, there’s no reason to show your co-workers your PJs and bedhead. (Unless it’s a joke the whole team agrees on, in which case we approve).
Take a few minutes to throw on a clean shirt and brush your hair. The best part of actually getting ready while working remotely is that you’ll put yourself in the right headspace to be productive.
3. Be aware of your surroundings
Your coworkers won’t be able to hear your ideas or take you seriously when there is a pile of dirty clothes in the corner behind you. You also want to avoid looking like you work from the inside of a cave because of bad lighting.
Adjust your work setup so that you face a window or are exposed to plenty of light. And make sure your background is professional and work appropriate! This means:
- No beds (unmade or made) in the background
- No messy rooms or open closets where everyone can see your clutter
- No NSFW artwork
While kids and pets are adorable (and a much needed distraction when you’re feeling overwhelmed), your coworkers won’t love having to talk over a screaming child or barking dog. So, be mindful of noise and…
4. Mute your microphone when you’re not talking
There’s nothing more frustrating than hearing that alien echo noise from conflicting microphones. Save everyone from the ear-splitting madness by joining the meeting while on mute!
Unless you live alone, your house is probably pretty noisy these days. Muting your microphone when you’re not speaking gives other participants the ability to chime in and share their thoughts without distraction or frustration.
5. Speak up
When you enter a small meeting (around two to five people) announce yourself when you join. It can be awkward to hear the “someone-just-joined” ding followed by silence. When you hop on the meeting, introduce yourself and say hi – just make sure not to interrupt someone mid-sentence.
Don’t be afraid to project your voice, too! Your team will appreciate being able to hear you without having to strain their ears or turn their volume all the way up.
6. No food allowed
Try to eat a snack before your virtual meeting. No one wants to see you stuff your face with chips while discussing important business matters. Not only is it distracting to others, you won’t be able to focus on the task at hand because you’ll be worrying about dropping crumbs all over your keyboard.
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7. Stay seated and stay present
It may be tempting to check your inbox or carry on a side conversation during a dull moment in a meeting, but don’t do it! You might miss out on key information or an opportunity to give input. If you’re using your webcam, use attentive body language: sit up straight, don’t make big extraneous movements, and don’t let your eyes wander too much.
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Expertise and Best Practices for Embracing Virtual Meetings
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New to remote work and virtual meetings? We’re here to help! Check out our new Resource Center with tips and tricks on how to master the shift to remote working for employees, managers and IT teams.We will continue to update this pages(and our social channels) with educational materials from both LogMeIn staff and third party experts in the coming days and weeks.
Lastly, if you are a LogMeIn customer looking to help protect your employees and rapidly expand your remote work policies, please contact us. We are committed to supporting you the best way we know how.