Efficiency, productivity, and profitability are essential to any business’s success, whether a small startup or a multinational conglomerate. By analyzing and debating these indicators, businesses may keep a finger on the pulse, expand efficiently, and determine whether their resources — time, money, and labor — are being used effectively. Business meetings are the most practical and efficient approach to review and discuss all indicators, produce new ideas, and maintain strong communication between teams. Determine the many types of business meetings in organization, their characteristics, and the most effective approach to conduct them.
What are Business Meetings?
Let’s split it down to avoid the impression that every cup of coffee with a coworker is a business meeting. A business meeting is a gathering of at least two individuals to discuss company objectives, issues, and problems, plan, establish goals, foster connections among employees, make decisions, and generate ideas.
A business meeting consists of people in suits seated at a single table. Modern technology and video conferencing solutions such as Zoom, Whoosh, and Google Meet have elevated this practice. When discussions cannot be held over the phone or by email, and face-to-face encounters require time and money, modern technology provides a helping hand. It enables holding business meetings with individuals anywhere around the world.
7 Most Common Types of Meetings and How to Conduct Them
Let’s review the most common different types of business meetings and their purpose also dive into their peculiarities.
1. Progress Update Meetings
Every organization now holds daily, weekly, and monthly meetings as a matter of course. They are responsible for disseminating current information to all team members or employees regarding the status of projects or the company’s state. These discussions demonstrate whether there are issues with communication and understanding of the overarching objective, which could lead to poor teamwork. In addition, companies use progress update Business Meetings to discuss and resolve existing issues, set goals, and make decisions to complete a project or business growth milestone.
Typically, these meetings are used to discuss:
- the team’s/company’s progress and accomplishments since the last meeting;
- challenges encountered;
- uncompleted tasks, reasons, & solutions;
- goals to be accomplished by the next meeting.
2. Problem-Solving Meetings
It is obvious from the name that the purpose of these gatherings is to find solutions to specific challenges. These may include fundamental and present company challenges and urgent situations requiring a quick response. These Business Meetings typically include managers, project leaders, and executives with the experience and knowledge to resolve the present issue.
For a meeting to be effective, you must inform all participants of the problem in as much detail as possible and foster an environment of the utmost trust. Each team member may express their thoughts and actively participate in brainstorming and discussing offered solutions. After the meeting, you should have multiple solutions to the problem.
3. Decision-Making Meetings
Chairmen, department heads, and managers with the experience and professionalism to make decisions typically attend such meetings. In an ideal situation, the decision-making process occurs after problem-solving meetings. For a good meeting, you should convene the company’s foremost experts on the issue at hand, present participants with possible solutions to the issue, assess the pros and drawbacks of each, and reach a resolution that strikes a balance. As a result of the discussion, you should draft a document outlining the steps to address the problem.
When an issue necessitates the participation of a large number of participants and extensive investigation, meetings can be divided into multiple sessions so that the team has the time to gather the required data to make the most informed choice.
4. Idea-Generation and Sharing Meetings
Every team member and employee has ideas they discuss with coworkers over lunch or in a chat. But you will only learn about them once you organize gatherings for idea generation and sharing. These sessions should have the friendliest atmosphere possible and involve individuals from several departments to ensure a diversity of viewpoints and perspectives.
Such Business Meetings are engaging and allow everyone to participate, culminating in a brainstorming session to develop fresh business-improving ideas. Moreover, employee connections will benefit from the idea-generation meetings.
5. Team Building Meetings
Why is team building required if workers already spend eight hours per day together? However, the purpose of these gatherings is not only to increase team spirit, improve connections, and boost business loyalty but also to attract new applicants. Team building can occur in various ways, including board games, picnics, interactive training sessions, and online courses. Of course, everything relies on the meeting’s objectives. In either case, improving team communication will contribute to the growth of your business.
6. Executive Meetings
These are regular Business Meetings held by the CEO, director, or board to discuss the present status, potential difficulties, strategic planning, and other non-urgent areas of the organization. Typically, these discussions do not include sudden or unplanned choices.
7. One-on-one Meetings
Some situations require only two individuals to discuss or settle. The talk format is up to the participants, and subjects might range from a sales pitch to a discussion about personal development potential inside the firm. The two-person meeting should be treated with the same care as a large gathering. Make sure you inform the other person about the topic of conversation and the format of the talk if you organize the meeting. Remember to plan the meeting and send an invitation.
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Consider every business meeting essential, and maximize its impact on your organization. Keep up with the most recent technologies and solutions that can help you streamline the organization process, adhere to the foundations of communication, be honest, and communicate with your team.
Keep All Meeting Types Efficient & Profitable
There will always be Business Meetings, but they don’t have to be so unpleasant! By establishing the meeting you wish to hold and executing the following suggestions, you may ensure that your meetings are productive and positive. Use Lifesize to maximize your meetings and experience what a successful business meeting should look like.
