Make every meeting memorable and effective. Begin with purpose and energy and you’ll leave a lasting impression that creates an environment of safety, productivity and creativity.
Whether you are in HR influencing your organization, or a leader who wants to make an impact, this toolkit is for you. Find out the 3 scientifically-valid strategies to start powerful meetings.
Top Three Ways to Start a Meeting with Impact and Purpose:
1. Tap into the Power of Intention and Focus: How Starting a Meeting with a Team Meditation Can Boost Productivity
Are there times when you’ve noticed team members appear stressed, overwhelmed, or just lack focus during meetings? It’s common. Try something that many fortune 500s and leading organizations are already doing; Start meetings with a brief team meditation or breathing practice. You’ll be amazed at how quickly this can lead to a more focused and productive meeting. Research has shown that meditation can have a powerful impact on productivity in the workplace.
A study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found that employees who participated in a mindfulness meditation program reported a 28% reduction in perceived stress levels and a 20% improvement in job performance.
So how can you incorporate meditation into your meetings?
Start by setting aside a few minutes at the beginning of each meeting for a guided meditation. We have a free pre-meeting meditation available here that makes it easy. When you begin any meeting this way, in-person or online, you will help team members to clear their minds, reduce stress, and increase focus.
In addition to starting meetings this way, consider the greater impact of the mindku program on your team’s performance. Based on the latest neuroscience, the mindku program teaches your team how to reduce stress, increase resilience and productivity and explore leadership in 2 short 15 minute breaks a week. Imagine providing the tools for your team that will help each person overcome overwhelm, recharge and refocus.
Meditation can help people perform at their best. Start with a guided practice at your next meeting and see for yourself the positive impact it can have on your team.
2. Begin on the Right Foot: How Starting a Meeting with Check-In Questions Can Improve Team Dynamics
Check-in questions can be another effective way to improve team dynamics and productivity.
A study published in the Journal of Business and Psychology found that meetings that began with a check-in resulted in higher levels of team collaboration and better communication.Team members were able to share their thoughts and feelings with each other, leading to increased empathy and understanding.
Another study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that check-ins can also help to increase team motivation and accountability. The study found that teams that incorporated regular check-ins were more likely to achieve their goals and meet their deadlines.
So how can you incorporate check-in questions into your meetings?
Set aside a few minutes at the beginning of each meeting for each team member to share their response to a check-in question. This could be something work-related, such as their current project status or a challenge they are facing, or something personal, such as their weekend plans or a recent accomplishment. Download our How to Start a Meeting Toolkit for a list of helpful check-in questions.
By allowing each team member to share their thoughts and feelings, you can help create a more supportive and collaborative team environment. In addition to improving team dynamics, regular check-ins can help ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals. Try a check-in question at your next meeting and help your team work more effectively together.
3. Experience the Ripple Effect of Gratitude: How Starting a Meeting with Thanks Can Improve Creativity and Innovation
Do you want to improve the creativity and innovation in your workplace? This may be as simple as starting your meetings with expressions of gratitude. Research shows that gratitude has a positive impact on creative problem solving and innovation.
In a study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, researchers found that individuals who wrote about things they were grateful for prior to completing a creative task came up with more unique and creative solutions than those who were not prompted to think about gratitude. Something as simple as starting meetings with expressions of thanks and gratitude helps encourage more innovative and creative thinking among team members.
Another study published in the Journal of Business and Psychology found that employees who felt appreciated and experienced gratitude for their work were more likely to come up with new and innovative ideas for their organizations. When employees feel valued and appreciated, they are more likely to take risks and think outside the box, which leads to increased creativity and innovation.
So how can you incorporate gratitude into your meetings?
Start by taking a few minutes at the beginning of each meeting to allow team members to express their gratitude for something. This could be something work-related, such as a successful project or a helpful coworker, or something personal, such as a recent accomplishment or a happy event in their personal life. By allowing team members to share what they are grateful for, you can help create a more positive and supportive team environment. If you are looking for some ideas of gratitude questions for the workplace, download our free toolkit on how to start a meeting with impact and purpose.
Foster a culture of gratitude and appreciation and you will actively encourage risk-taking and outside-the-box thinking. Explore the positive impact gratitude can have on your team’s creativity.