Why you should start your meetings with fun 🎊
When you start your meetings with fun, you're showing that you care about the well-being of both yourself and your team.
Team building activities help build trust between coworkers, which makes them perform better as a group. They also help alleviate any potential tension or stress caused by work overloads—aka, minimize employee burnout. 💪
So, what are the most fun ways to start your meetings? Read on to find out. 👀
Add these 5 unique activities to your meeting agenda ✅
Read about the 5 best ways to kick things off at your next virtual meetings! 👇
1. Get everybody moving 👯♀️
Did you know even small amounts of physical activity can immediately reduce symptoms of anxiety and stress? Science told us! 🧑🔬
So, start remote team meetings with a bit of movement. There are plenty of fun fitness activities you can do together, like, hey, maybe a Richard Simmons 5-minute work out video? (No seriously, we did this once during a coworking session - it was revitalizing. 💪)
Why is this activity great for starting virtual meetings? Movement is good for health and energy levels. And those are two things we want our employees to have plenty of.
How to get started 👉 It's not just exercise - it's DESKercise!
2. Ask icebreakers that are actually fun 🧊
To kick off the meeting, start with icebreakers that are legitimately fun (don't just ask about someone's weekend!)
Pro-tip: As a leader, volunteer to go first. The point is to put yourself out there and create an environment where everyone feels safe enough to loosen up a bit. Like, what's stopping you from belting out your favorite song on camera in your next team sync? 🎶
Why is this activity great for starting virtual meetings? This is a great way to get meeting attendees talking, engaging them just before diving into a work-related group discussion.
How to get started 👉 Let loose with Icebreakers!
3. Have a virtual coffee break ☕️
A virtual coffee break is an informal opportunity for people to get to know each other in a more casual environment. It gives your team a moment to breathe and collect themselves before diving into more serious, work-related matters. 😮💨
Why is this activity great for starting virtual meetings? Coffee breaks are a good way for people to feel comfortable opening up about themselves and their work experience, which in turn can generate ideas and insights that you may not have considered before.
Spruce up your coffee break 👉 No one will be bitter about a professional Coffee Tasting!
4. Take a stretch break 🙆
A quick stretch break is a great way to recharge your team’s batteries and keep them focused at work. Set 5 minutes of your meeting for a group stretch break! ⏰
To make sure every team member is comfortable and encourage participation, give them the option to have their cameras off.
Why is this activity great for starting virtual meetings? Stretch breaks are proven to reduce stress, improve circulation and breathing, and help you focus when you return to your work.
How to get started 👉 Get into the flow with a relaxing Yoga Class!
5. Meditate together 🧘
A great way to start your meeting is with meditation. Meditation helps people focus and feel more relaxed, so you'll be able to get into the right headspace for a productive meeting. 🧠 You can do this in silence or with guided meditation.
Why is this activity great for starting virtual meetings? Meditation can help ground your virtual team into what you're about to discuss! It gives them the space to clear their heads and focus on what's in front of them. 👀
How to get started 👉 Center your team in a guided Meditation Class!
Start your virtual meetings with Confetti!
We'll make your next virtual meeting POP. 🎉 Start planning with Confetti today!
Frequently Asked Questions ❓
How do you start a virtual meeting? 🤔
Oh, definitely start with fun, virtual team building activities that get everyone engaged. There's nothing like a virtual event. Not that we're biased or anything. 😜
But for a more serious answer:
The first thing is to establish a sense of community and rapport. If you're meeting with people who don't know each other, you can start by having everyone introduce themselves.
It's always best to include fun activities that will help set the tone for a productive discussion! For example...
- Ask everyone what their favorite food is (and then share yours). This could lead into an interesting conversation about where different foods come from or how they're prepared—and it'll get people talking!
What are some fun ways to start a virtual meeting? 🤨
If you use a video conferencing platform like Zoom, there are more ways than just an icebreaker that allows you to start your meeting with something fun:
- You can play short, fun improv exercises like “20 Questions” or “Three-Headed Expert”
- Setting Zoom backgrounds to a scene from everyone's favorite TV show and having people guess where it's from
- You can play music videos from YouTube on mute in the background during breaks or between activities (and then ask people if they guessed which song it was)
- Or employees sing your favorite song out loud (again, on mute)
How do you kick off a meeting? 🧐
If you're leading a meeting, it's your job to set the tone for your virtual environment. We recommend always trying to start your meeting on a high and with an activity that keeps remote teams engaged.
These activities can include anything from a quick, 5-minute chat about their day to something more structured, like a guided yoga session. We recommend seeing what your team members like best!
The most effective virtual meeting will always be ones your participants enjoy.
