How to make your meetings more interactive?

When was the last time you were in a meeting that went on and on and on? Just one person speaking, and the rest listening (at least that's how the speaker felt). Even if you wanted to pay attention, these meetings might be boring, dull, and tiring.
But it doesn't have to be that way. A few little changes you, as a host, can make that will go a long way in making your meeting interesting, productive, and most importantly, interactive!

How do I make meetings more interactive? 

To make a meeting interactive, you have to invite engagement and not just attendance. Ensure that the meeting has a clear purpose, agenda, and encourages active participation through various techniques. Ask icebreaker questions before starting the conversation. Remember, if your participants aren't comfortable, they won’t engage during the meeting. Here are a few tips to ensure engagement during the meeting. 

1. Q&A: Asking open-ended questions during the meeting will invite participant engagement. You could also use the Q&A tab in Zoho Meeting to post questions. If people are shy to answer, they could always type in the answers over there.
2. Polls: Conduct polls during your meeting. Taking a quick poll will ensure that everyone's attention is on the meeting. This will help reduce distractions and keep the participants focused during the meeting.
3. Share materials: If you can include a presentation or a PDF, or even start a collaborative whiteboard session during the meeting, you're practically assured to have the attention of the participants. Sharing materials will add value and make meetings intriguing.
4. Emojis: Encourage participants to use emoji reactions during meetings. Emojis act as  non-verbal feedback during the meeting. You’ll be able to gauge the mood of the participants quickly and if they’re active during the session. Zoho Meeting has a cool animation whenever someone reacts with an emoji, and this will improve the focus of other participants involved in the meeting.

But my team is shy. How do I get them to speak up?

Not everyone is a natural speaker, and that’s fine. Here’s where you need to encourage people by: 

1. Asking open-ended questions and offering plenty of space for answers.
2. Praising even small inputs to ensure your participants feel heard.
3. Sharing a little about yourself or a funny story to help break the ice makes the interaction less intimidating.

Remember, good hosts can bring out the best in their participants. If you show genuine interest, you’ll have an interactive session.

What if people seem distracted or multitask during virtual meetings?

When participants seem distracted or are multitasking during a meeting, it might affect engagement and productivity. As a host, you can manage this by combining proactive engagement techniques and subtle moderation strategies.

At the start, mention that participation and input are valuable, and if possible, make it a video conference; this will help everyone stay engaged. Call on participants by name for opinions or updates to keep them involved. Make use of polls, emojis, or share files to keep them engaged. If someone’s distracted, ask for their input in a friendly way rather than calling them out. 

If it’s a large meeting, use breakout rooms. People are less likely to multitask in smaller groups where interaction is expected. Remember to keep meetings concise; respecting time earns respect in return. If some parts aren’t relevant to a few in the meeting, let them leave and send a brief update instead of holding everyone online.

Can fun activities really make work meetings productive, or does it risk wasting time?

When managed wisely, a little fun leads to big productivity. A five-minute game or trivia quiz isn’t a detour; it’s a bridge to better engagement. A fun activity at the start will break the ice, boost engagement, and encourage creativity and collaboration in the meeting. People relax at first and then focus better. Just ensure that the fun activity serves a purpose, whether it’s creative thinking, team bonding, or breaking down hierarchy barriers. 

Wrapping up 

Meetings don't have to be tedious and tiring. By following a few simple techniques, you can ensure an interactive and productive meeting. Move away from monologues, use open-ended questions, start with an icebreaker, and make use of the participant engagement features in Zoho Meeting. Combining these with clear agendas before the meeting will ensure higher engagement during the meeting