Want A More Fun And Productive Business Meeting? Schedule A Lunch Meeting Instead
Meetings can be dull and divisive affairs. And one of the best ways to both spice them up and to make them more productive is to take them outside the office. Why not try a business lunch meeting? Here are four great reasons why this works.
Food Entices Attendance. For a voluntary meeting — or even an unpopular mandatory one — add a sort of "bribe" by offering to feed attendees for their cooperation. You'll likely see a boost in attendance and interest. If you set the menu, make sure it accounts for food sensitivities and common allergies as well as not including things that are inherently messy.
You Control the Environment. Heading outside the office means that people are less able to bring their work with them. At a restaurant, there are no laptops, no other departments, no secretaries stepping in, and no arriving clients. You will have an hour or two carefully carved out — and if you specify no cellphones, you may get even more. Work with the chosen restaurant to reserve a quiet space or closed room as well as sufficient wait staff to ensure your attendees aren't distracted by their stomachs.
It Relaxes Everyone. Get people out of their offices, away from their politics, and in from separate departments for a more productive environment. You can set up your business lunch as a round-table, a single long table, or even small groups of tables for different effects. This puts employees on the same level as their supervisors, other departments, and even the management in charge. Add food and drink, and you'll soon see people mingling, conversing, and getting to know each other in a casual way.
You Have a Captive Audience. Both because of the lunch being served at specific times and the fact that you're off the work site, people are captive to your timetable. This will help ensure you can get through your agenda and even allows for time to get into more complicated debates. Set a timetable that includes time to peruse the menu, be served, and eat comfortably. You can take advantage of the downtime between activities, though.
Which of these four reasons solves more of your business meeting challenges? Whether it's poor attendance and attention or office politics, scheduling a business lunch could be just the answer you've been looking for. And you get a good meal for your efforts. What more could you ask for? For more information on function bookings, contact your local event planner.