Meetings don't have to be soul-crushing, energy-draining time blocks everyone dreads. With the right approach, they can become dynamic, engaging, and even (dare we say) fun! Research backs this up—71% of employees say most meetings are unproductive, and 55% of remote workers believe many meetings could be emails. So, let's make meetings something your team looks forward to!
Here are 18 creative ways to bring energy, camaraderie, and productivity to your meetings. Whether you're working remotely or in person, these ideas will shake things up and keep everyone engaged.
1. Unique Skill Sharing Meeting
Let your team showcase their hidden talents! Let team members teach a quick skill, whether juggling, latte art, or coding in Python. Keep it to 15-20 minutes to provide a brain break without derailing productivity.
Tip:
- Create a signup sheet for employees to choose when to present.
- Rotate through departments to encourage cross-team bonding.
2. Take It Outside
Take it outside! Fresh air boosts creativity and reduces stress. Studies show that spending 20 minutes outdoors improves memory and mood—perfect for brainstorming sessions.
How to Make It Work:
- Use picnic tables or bring blankets for a relaxed setting.
- Start with an icebreaker: What's your favorite outdoor spot?
- Take a short walk while discussing ideas.
3. Team Expedition
Channel childhood field trip vibes—minus the permission slips. For inspiration, choose a location that aligns with your industry.
Ideas:
- Nonprofit Teams: Visit another nonprofit to gain fresh perspectives.
- Marketing Teams: Tour a local ad agency or art gallery to spark creativity.
- Food Industry Teams: Do a tasting crawl at local businesses to connect with the industry.
4. Video Montage Meeting
Turn a regular meeting into a mini film festival! Split into teams, record short videos (15-30 seconds), and compile them into a fun montage.
Theme Ideas:
- Morale Booster: Ask other departments what they appreciate about your team.
- Company Vision: Have employees creatively illustrate company goals.
- Silent Storytelling: Pantomime key objectives and let teammates guess the message.
5. Upskill Meeting
Instead of a lecture-style training, turn skill-building into an interactive session.
How to Run It:
- Survey employees on skills they want to learn (e.g., Canva design, Excel hacks).
- Find an internal expert to teach in a hands-on, 20-minute session.
- Rotate different topics each month to keep it fresh.
6. Product Testing Party
If your company makes a product, let employees test it like a consumer! Provide samples and gather feedback in a relaxed setting.
Bonus Idea:
- Try a competitor's product to gain insights and discuss potential improvements.
7. Scavenger Hunt Meeting
Turn your office—or the whole city—into an interactive challenge. Gamification makes meetings more engaging and boosts team collaboration.
Setup:
- Create a list of trivia questions and location-based tasks.
- Include challenges that require team problem-solving.
- Cap the activity at 60-90 minutes for maximum engagement.
8. "I've Been Wondering…" Discussion
Create a casual Q&A where everyone starts with "I've been wondering…" This encourages curiosity, open discussion, and team bonding.
Examples:
- "I've been wondering… how do other teams handle deadline crunches?"
- "I've been wondering… why do we use this specific tool?"
9. Office Craft Challenge
Divide into teams and challenge everyone to create a product that solves a work-related problem using basic supplies.
Example Materials:
- Toilet paper rolls + tape (Creativity required!)
- Printer paper + string (A bridge-building challenge?)
10. All the Good Feels Meeting
Shift the focus to positivity! Employees are more productive when they feel appreciated, yet 30% say their contributions go unnoticed. Dedicate a meeting to good news only.
Ways to Celebrate:
- Read client praise and positive feedback.
- Share anonymous compliments from teammates.
- Create a Kindness Box where employees drop notes of appreciation.
11. Paper Airplane Problem Solving
Write down workplace challenges on paper, fold them into airplanes, and let them fly. Each person grabs a random airplane and brainstorms solutions. Seeing challenges from a fresh perspective sparks creativity!
Follow-Up:
- Discuss common themes that emerge.
- Identify quick wins and action steps.
12. Standing or Walking Meetings
Sitting for 10+ hours a day increases fatigue and lowers productivity. Flip the script with a standing or walking meeting.
Benefits:
- Boosts energy & engagement
- Encourages creative thinking
- Reduces health risks (UC Berkeley found that standing meetings are 34% shorter but equally effective!)
13. Japanese Tea Room Meeting
Find a calm, serene space to host a meeting over tea. A Japanese tea room or cozy café offers a relaxed environment for brainstorming.
Can't find one? Try a virtual "tea break" meeting where everyone brings their favorite tea or coffee.
14. Show & Tell Meeting
Have each employee grab an item nearby and share its story. It's a fun, low-pressure way to connect and learn about each other.
15. Interactive Meeting Tools
Make virtual meetings more dynamic with live polls, quizzes, and word clouds.
Great Tools to Try:
- Slido (Live polls & Q&A)
- Kahoot (Fun quizzes)
- Lucidspark (Brainstorming & collaboration)
16. Kids, Pets, & Plants Welcome
Have a casual "bring your loved ones" meeting. Let employees introduce their kids, pets, or favorite houseplants for a fun and personal touch.
17. Magic Wand Question
Ask: "If you had a magic wand, what would you change about our team?" This lighthearted question reveals insightful feedback while keeping the conversation positive.
Follow-Up Questions:
- What's stopping us from making that change?
- What small step could we take today?
18. Team Book Club
Choose a book to read as a team—whether business-related or just for fun! Reading together builds common ground and sparks discussions.
Final Thought: Meetings Should Inspire, Not Exhaust
By incorporating creativity, interaction, and positivity, you can turn meetings into something people genuinely enjoy.
Pick one or two of these ideas to implement this month, and watch your team's engagement soar!