If you don't want the people at your next meeting sitting around the table daydreaming, try these techniques to liven up the atmosphere and make the agenda more interactive:
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Give each participant a lead role in an agenda item — No one should be allowed to sit back and observe for the entire meeting.
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Avoid sleep-inducing meals before a meeting — No cheesecake or creamy pastas, and definitely no alcohol.
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Try stand-up meetings — You'll be amazed at how much time it will save.
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Schedule frequent breaks — There should be no more than 1½ to two hours of sitting.
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Call on people who are silent — Don't wait for them to raise their hands.
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Break into subgroups — Then ask each to report back to the group as a whole.
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Ask attendees to communicate concisely — Tell them: “Our time is tight. Is it reasonable to ask you to limit your comments to about two minutes each?”
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Ask speakers to avoid lecturing — If their presentations are not interactive, tell them you're not interested.
Source: Eli Mina, MSc, PRP (eli@elimina.com)
