Words by Kela Zulueta
Photos by Chelsea Cue (@chel_cue)
The first time I sat down for a meeting we waited, looked at each other, and realized none of us knew what to do next. With our laptops open in front of us, we spent the next few hours trudging along the meeting and making small talk instead of discussing the project at hand. Eventually, the four hours we spent together finally passed with next to nothing having been accomplished.
Does this scenario sound familiar? We’ve all been there: taking the time out of your busy schedule to show up at a meeting where nothing happens. It’s a waste of time, a waste of energy, and even a waste of money. Not only that, more often than not, these meetings end up terribly boring. So what are a few ways to fix this? Read on to find out!
5. Set an Agenda
Always know what you want to accomplish, in the bigger scheme of things and also every step of the way. Establish goals, map out a process to get there, and you’re halfway through! Kind of. Being aware and reminding yourself of everything that needs to be settled on during a meeting assures efficiency. It keeps the ball rolling and removes dead weight; conducting a meeting should be as easy as checking off items on your to-do list!
Foxhole Business Center has a practical set up that keeps you focused on setting up your work
4. Make It Dynamic
Switch up the usual meeting plan to keep everyone on their toes! Planning a variety of activities within the span of the meetings is sure to keep everyone on their toes. You could begin with the usual presentation, add a video in to spice it up a bit, then open the floor for questions or discussion. A break is always a good insertion for people to process ideas or to think some new ones up. Brainstorming or feedback sessions have everyone taking part in the conversation to feel and remain relevant.
Foxhole’s open space and access to various multimedia allow you to customize your meeting structure however you want it!
3. Keep It Collaborative
On a similar note, ensuring each person in the meeting feeling part of the team should not be under-emphasized. Have everyone pitch ideas, provide input for different aspects, share any and all insights. It’s important that all those present in the meeting not only feel that they are a valuable component of the plan, but also actually provide value to the plan.
Talk, plan, and strategize your way to success in a collaborative space like Foxhole offers
2. Snack Your Way To Success
The best part of anything, ever (or life itself): food. A well-stocked pantry or any ready provisions is a great motivator for meetings. It keeps the energy of the group up, and it works as an incentive to keep the meeting productive and worth the snacks you provide. And you know what they always say about brain food!
Nothing like good coffee and brain food to get you working — two things Foxhole never skimps on
- Find a Convenient Location and a Conducive Space
Nothing is worse than slaving your way through hours worth of traffic, trying to get to an impossible location for a meeting, only to show up drained and unhelpful because of it. Setting any event in a well-situated venue is always key, more so for professional ones. Your clients and collaborators alike should never have any qualms about the meeting area. An ideal example would be Foxhole, which is easy to access via commute. Your clients will also have an easier time finding you. It’s five minutes away from the MRT (Magallanes) station, five minutes away from Greenbelt, and a short walk to and from the PNR Station (train connecting southern Luzon to Metro Manila). It’s parallel to the South Luzon Expressway.
Aside from the convenient location, Foxhole also designed the venue to be very conducive for work. They have high-speed Fiber Internet, a spacious conference room, a reception area, breakout areas for brainstorming, and flexible packages to cater to both big and small teams.
Keeping these super simple but super effective tips in mind will guarantee only the best for your meetings. Say goodbye to useless meetings, squandered efforts, and dull assemblies because getting the basics right can go a long way.
If you’re interested to know how Foxhole can assist you in your business or career, you can contact them on the details provided below.
Foxhole Business Center
Website: https://foxholeph.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foxholeph/
Phone: (02) 804 3391
Email: officespace@foxholeph.com
Address: 2/F Molave Building, 2231 Don Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City
