Let’s face it, having the nuances of your benefits plans explained to them isn’t exactly what fires up your employees. That being said, there are some ways companies can add spice to benefits meetings.
The two most important tactics: Keep them short and productive.
After all, an hour-long meeting with eight attendees costs a company eight man hours worth of work — or an entire day’s worth of productivity.
Here are three companies’ unconventional tactics to keep meetings from being a time drain and help employees become more engaged.
- Four-foot-tall timer. At Google, a four-foot-tall timer projected onto a wall keeps meetings and their speakers from stalling. When the allotted amount of time runs out (generally just a few minutes), it’s time to move on to a new topic — or for the speaker to wrap up.
- “Topless” meetings. This isn’t what you’re thinking. The name refers to laptops, which design company Adaptive Path makes sure are checked (along with BlackBerrys, iPhones and other portable devices) at the door to keep employees focused on a meeting’s agenda.
- Chairless meetings. A Los Angeles firm removes all the chairs in its conference room before important meetings. You’d be surprised how fast folks can wrap up discussions when there’s no place to sit.
Info: “Work Smart: Unconventional Cures for Meeting-itis,” by Gina Trapani, Fast Company, 5/10/10.
What does your company to do either keep meetings brief or keep attendees focused? Let us know in the Comments Box below.
