After years of Zoom meetings, in-person meetings are returning to our collective radar. As a Treasure Coast coworking space all about helping people get together, we’re excited by the shift back to face-to-face gatherings!
Here’s what to know if you’re a little rusty on in-person meeting etiquette.
Have an Agenda
There’s no harsher criticism than hearing, “This meeting could have been an email.” Avoid being called out this way by setting an agenda and creating action items. Decide beforehand who really needs to attend the meeting, and plan what you will cover in what timeframe. Group topics so people can depart after the topics relevant to them have been covered, and ensure everyone leaves with a clear action item to attend to.
Assign Speakers
Assigning a speaker is vital to retaining control over the flow of your meeting. Know who will lead the meeting and who is expected to chime in with specifics throughout. If you’re expecting anyone to present or pose complex questions, make sure people are alerted ahead of time so that they have time to prepare. This avoids awkward silences or low-quality responses.
Keep It Short
We’ve all dozed off in an all-day meeting. Keep your attendees bright and awake by focusing only on essentials during the discussion and using email or other communication channels for the rest. This helps ensure that people are focused during the meeting and that they have plenty of time left during their working day to focus on action items!
Assign a Note-Taker
Having a dedicated note-taker in your meeting is a great way to make sure that important items get covered, and makes for easy summarizing post meeting. If no one’s willing to act as a note-taker, you can also record your meeting and use a service to summarize talking points. Don’t forget to forward key points, action items, resources and deadlines after the meeting so that nothing gets forgotten.
Choose the Right Meeting Space
Meet like you mean it. Rather than gathering team members or clients at your home office or in a noisy coffee shop, choose a professional location with comfortable seating, good lighting, strong Wi-Fi, and audiovisual equipment. Your guests will be able to focus on the meeting content instead of trying to figure out the internet situation or shouting to be heard over background noise.
Meet Like a Boss at W Executive Suites!
Whether you’re looking to meet one-on-one or pitch your big idea to an investor, W Executive Suites is the ideal location to put your best foot forward. With a variety of meeting rooms to choose from across four locations in Florida, we’re your one-stop shop for professional, productive meeting spaces – plus, we offer the tech and admin support that keeps things running smoothly.
Don’t risk hosting your next big meeting in a space not designed for it. Book a room at W Executive Suites!