SMALLER MEETINGS ,
BIGGER IMPACTS
Jill Manley , group commercial director at The Celtic Collection , discusses the benefits of small meetings and shares her top tips on how to motivate your attendees fter almost 18 months of video calls and virtual meetings with numerous attendees , often talking over each other , we have realised that bigger isn ’ t always better when it comes to meetings . In fact , smaller meetings can have a greater impact on business goals and attendee wellbeing .
Why host a smaller meeting ?
There are a lot of benefits that come with reducing the invite list ; increased productivity , focus and creativity to a
Jill Manley , group commercial director , The Celtic Collection name but a few . Holding a smaller meeting means that you will need to put some thought into who will be attending , and if they need to be there . It might be tricky cutting the list at first , especially if you have a large team , but remember not everyone will be able to contribute to the discussion . By carefully selecting the attendees that are needed and freeing up the diaries of those who aren ’ t , you are increasing productivity across all aspects of your business .
We ’ ve found that having fewer voices in the room in our internal creative and strategy sessions has helped us to achieve some great results and reach decisions quicker .
Short and sweet
If you are reducing the number of people at your meeting you should also consider reducing the agenda points . Where you can , try to streamline the agenda to keep your attendees motivated throughout the meeting and to ensure the most crucial items are discussed and reviewed . It will also make the outcomes and actions from the meeting easier to digest and delegate .
A change of scenery
It can be hard to feel creative when you are staring at the same four walls or laptop screen . Regardless of if you have returned to the office , or if you are still working from home , scheduling an in-person meeting away from your daily work location
Parkgate Hotel
will be appreciated by your attendees . We have just launched our new meeting space , The Telegraph Room , at The Parkgate Hotel , which is ideal for smaller meetings . Being in the heart of Cardiff is incredibly beneficial , with plenty of open spaces to explore , including Bute Park , which is a short walk from the hotel .
Many of us have experienced a renewed appreciation for the great outdoors because of the pandemic . Taking a short walk not only helps to boost creativity and productivity but it also boosts physical and mental wellbeing . CN
Your meeting checklist
Considering these ideas , here are three things to remember when organising your next meeting :
• Put some thought into your invite list
• Ensure your agenda is streamlined and ticks off the critical discussion points
• Look for a venue with suitable space as well as opportunities to incorporate other activities www . conference-news . co . uk