Employees and managers spend a lot of time in meetings at work. Meetings are important for building a strong company culture, but they are often overlooked. Meetings has been working to improve meetings in different organizations and has gathered insights on how meetings affect work. In their book “Momentum: Creating Effective, Engaging, and Enjoyable Meetings,” they share stories and tips to help improve meeting culture. Meetings can either support or harm company culture. They offer a window into an organization’s values, communication, and overall environment.
In this blog post, we will explore how meetings impact company culture and share tips on how organizations can make meetings more positive and productive.
Build a culture-first organization by focusing on meetings
Culture in a company is like its personality; it’s how things are done there. When a new employee joins, they learn about the company’s values and culture, not just during orientation, but also from their daily interactions.
For example, if a company values transparency, it should show in their meetings. Are people told about the meeting’s purpose and outcomes beforehand? Is information shared openly, and are all participants encouraged to share ideas? If not, the company may need to rethink how it promotes transparency in its meetings.
Meetings play a big role in shaping a company’s culture. By setting clear goals, encouraging participation, staying focused, using technology, and following up, meetings can help build a positive work environment. When companies prioritize a positive culture and hold effective meetings, it boosts morale and productivity.
Meteor helps businesses improve their meeting strategies to align with their culture. By focusing on fostering a positive work environment through efficient meetings, companies can support their employees and achieve their goals effectively.
Use meetings to reinforce the culture you want to build
Some practices in meetings can help create a positive work culture, while others may not. A client seeking to improve her team meetings found that despite introducing new goal-setting and accountability practices, their meetings were not effective. They often ran out of time and lacked productivity.
After assessing their meeting culture, they implemented a practice called “desired outcome.”. This means having a specific goal for each meeting, which helps in planning and staying focused. The desired outcome is shared with all participants, guides the agenda, and is reiterated throughout the meeting. If discussions veer off track, the team refocuses on the desired outcome.
By consistently using the desired outcome practice, the team saw improvements in their meetings and embraced a results-oriented mindset. Meetings can play a crucial role in shaping a company’s culture by promoting collaboration and productivity. Planning meetings that align with the desired culture, encouraging participation, and recognizing values can help reinforce a positive work environment.
What do you want your meetings to say about your culture?
Meetings are an important part of how a company operates and can show what its culture is like. They bring people together from different parts of the company to share ideas, build relationships, and make decisions. The way meetings are run can reflect the values and beliefs of the company.
For example, some companies have meetings where everyone’s opinions are valued, decisions are made together, and teamwork is encouraged. This shows a culture that values collaboration and diversity.
On the other hand, some companies have meetings where only top officials make decisions and employee input is not considered. This can show a culture of authority and conformity.
In my experience, a company’s meeting culture should align with its values by encouraging participation from all employees and promoting teamwork. When everyone’s voice is heard, it can lead to better decisions and a more positive work environment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the way meetings are conducted in a company can reveal a lot about its culture. From the tone and structure of the meetings to the level of participation and decision-making, these factors can give insight into the values and priorities of the organization. By paying attention to how meetings are run, employees and leaders alike can gain a better understanding of the overall company culture and work towards creating a more positive and productive environment.