How to Avoid Boring Meetings: 4 Strategies for Keeping Your Audience Engaged
Do you struggle to keep your team members’ attention during a meeting?
How do you handle distracted teammates when you’re giving a presentation or a briefing?
I’ve often found myself feeling drained instead of energized after hosting a meeting. It took me a while to realize why. It wasn’t because I was tired of speaking, but because people weren’t truly receiving what I was sharing. When people are actively involved and participating, I feel energized instead.
This is often where my mind goes when I’m presenting. I don’t want to be a control freak, nor do I want to come across as a school teacher or lecturer. I want to be polite, engaging, and effective without sounding demanding or asking too much.
Many people attend meetings out of obligation, not interest. But as presenters, it’s important for us to capture the participants’ attention, making it easier to convey our message.
If this resonates with you, here are four tips I’ve found helpful:
1. Start with a Conversation That Involves Everyone.
Set the tone by inviting everyone to share right from the beginning. You could start by discussing the needs your presentation will address or by asking if they’re facing any challenges related to the topic. Give people a chance to speak and engage early on.
2. Connect with Your Purpose for the Meeting.
Before you begin, take a moment to connect with why you’re hosting this meeting. What’s important about this for you? Share that intention openly, and invite participants to connect with your energy and understand why their participation matters.
3. Remember the 20-Minute Attention Span Rule.
The human brain struggles to stay engaged for more than 20 minutes at a time. Break things up with a light-hearted moment—maybe a joke, a quick interactive activity, or even just moving around a bit. This helps keep everyone refreshed and ready to dive back in.
4. Try a Group Activity to Build Connection.
It might sound a little unconventional, but research shows that when people do something together as a group—like a quick breathing exercise, a bit of stretching, or even a short guided meditation—it can build a stronger sense of connection and lay the foundation for a more effective meeting.
I hope these tips help make your meetings more engaging and less draining. What have you tried that works? Share your best tips in the comments—I’d love to learn from your experiences!
Much Love,
Sundar