How to End Your Meeting on a High Note

It happens all too often. A meeting ends, and employees leave confused, unheard, or uninterested. It is important, as a meeting leader, to end your meeting in a way that enables your employees to go back to work with a sense of direction and focus. By following these three simple practices, you can ensure that you are ending your meetings on a high note!

 

1. Recap

Review the objectives that were addressed in the meeting. If possible, have a document on-hand that outlines the main points that were discussed and hand this out to each employee after the meeting adjourns.  If appropriate, personalize each list to include the objectives that are expected of each individual. This will help each employee understand their purpose and make them not only feel like their time was not wasted, but that they are an important part of the team. Also, if time permits, provide some question and answer time to review any remaining questions or concerns.

 

2. Reassure

Everybody loves positive feedback, so make sure to provide some at the end of the meeting. Give a quick overview of what went well and what was accomplished. Praise good suggestions or creative ideas that were offered by individuals during the meeting. This is a time to make your employees know that they are valued members of your team and that their contributions are welcome.

 

3. Relate & Relax

After all is said and done, spend a short amount of time doing something fun as a team, preferably non-work related. Whether it is a playing a short game or completing a team building activity, when done correctly, team building exercises can strengthen the overall effectiveness of a team by creating and developing a strong sense of unity.

 

If playing a game or activity is not the right avenue to end a particular meeting, then at least spend a short amount of time mingling with your team instead of heading straight back to your desk. Catch up with individual employees about their personal lives or plan a group lunch. Taking purposeful time to relax before heading back to work will make your employees more productive in the long-run and reassure them that you value them as people, not just workers.

Keep in mind that employees want clear direction, positive feedback, and to be valued as individuals. Finding ways to incorporate these kinds of practices into your meetings, as well as everyday interactions, will foster a strong team environment within your organization.

 

Interested in learning more about WinMock at Kinderton’s unique setting and full-service corporate event planning? Please contact Angela Carleton at AngelaC@WinMock.com or 339.397.2010.