We have become jaded. The dreaded Zoom meeting, which we thought would dissipate as the coronavirus pandemic faded, is here to stay, popping up all over our calendars like a well-fed invasive species.
And herein lies the problem. Back-to-back virtual meetings spur inattention. When you combine the overwhelming feelings associated with these meetings with the mistaken “I can multitask” mindset that most of us have, you get participants who are not engaged—and meetings that are not productive.
But what if online meetings could become interesting or even enthralling?
It’s not a pipe dream. Looking forward to Zoom is possible if you’re willing to be thoughtful about how you lead these meetings and take them seriously.
The main reason people join your meeting with apathy or even disdain is that they have sat through numerous meetings over the past days and months that just weren’t all that exciting. They expect you to deliver the same ole beige two-dimensional online time sink.
Getting participants to engage in your meetings starts with the start.
The way you begin a meeting sends a signal to all participants. Your launch could say, “This is another bland meeting exactly like the one you just left.” Or, it could convey something more intriguing, compelling attendees to think, “This is different, maybe I should pay attention.” If you’re leading meetings, here are a dozen tips so that you can sizzle from the start:
4 Ways To Involve Them
When participants are involved from the start, they’re more likely to stay engaged, so you can’t delay your inclusion of them. Make interaction your kick off. To quote an ancient Asian proverb, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
1. Show And Tell
Dedicate a few minutes at the beginning of each meeting for a virtual show and tell session. Encourage participants to share something interesting or meaningful to them, whether it’s a hobby, a favorite book, or a unique item from their home. It’s a great technique for learning more about each other and fostering connections.
2. A Wellness WordCloud
Use polling software to show the collective current emotion people are feeling. It important to check in on our emotions. If people are feeling tired or overwhelmed, it’s important for you (the meeting facilitator!) to know that.
3. Interesting Photos
Ask participants to choose a clever or memorable photo and share it at the beginning of the meeting. Let each person briefly explain the story behind the photo. To make sure this doesn’t take up the whole meeting, set a timer.
4. Visual Introductions
Have participants create a slide that’s all about them—their passions, values, life experiences, proud moments, etc. Then have them display it and explain it. As a bonus, this gives them a chance to showcase their personal brand traits.
4 Ways To Inspire Them
Amping up the inspiration will increase the energy level and give your audience the fuel to keep going.
1. Hero Bio
Share a very brief bio of an inspiring person who embodies the traits of your team. The bio can be ripped from the headlines or from the history books.
2. Special Guest
ThinkersOne lets you open your meeting with a guest expert on virtually every topic you could imagine. You can bring them in for a few minutes or longer to kick off the conversation on topics that are important to your group. It’s a cost-effective way to infuse your meeting with a spark of motivation.
3. Storytelling
Starting with an inspiring story that touches the heart will get your meeting participants connected and engaged.
4. Quote
A quote from a famous person or even from a senior leader in your organization can be a thought-provoking conversation starter.
4 Ways To Intrigue Them
Nothing grips like intrigue. Just ask the creators at Netflix, who build in a curiosity chasm to every episode of every show to keep us bingeing.
1. Provocative Question
When you start with a question, it generates thinking. Questions that start with “What if” or “Why is it that” can be particularly good for arousing curiosity.
2. Emoji Polling
Use the chat or reaction feature in Zoom to kick off the meeting with emoji reactions. Ask a fun question and have participants respond with their favorite emoji, answering in the form of a mood or emotion.
3. Fascinating Facts
Sometimes data can be exciting. When I’m delivering a meeting about making meetings mesmerizing, I share this stat: 95% of people think they can multitask, yet only 2.5% of people actually can. This stat does double duty, reminding people of the mindset that gets in the way of successful virtual meetings.
4. Riddle, Quiz or Trivia
Start the meeting with a quick round of trivia questions related to a specific topic—preferably one that connects with the meeting topic. Give participants a chance to answer while you keep track of points. The competitive nature of it adds an extra bit of glue.
The common denominator in these actions—involving, inspiring and intriguing—is the prefix “in.” By making the most of this Dynamic Dozen, you can draw your audience in and hold their attention while you’re gathered together in that potentially valuable digital moment.
William Arruda is a keynote speaker, co-founder of CareerBlast.TV and creator of the 360Reach Personal Brand Survey that helps you get candid, meaningful feedback from people who know you.
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