5 tips for creating engaging team meetings

April 1, 2025

It’s Tactical Tuesday!

Here is the Thought, Tip, and Tool of the week...

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The Thought

Did you know... 71% of meetings are considered unproductive? It’s a staggering stat, but one that highlights the widespread frustration with meetings that lack focus or purpose. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. With a few intentional strategies, you can transform your meetings into powerful tools for team development and collaboration.

"Meetings aren’t just a necessity—they’re an opportunity. An opportunity to inspire, engage, and move your team closer to their goals."

As leaders, it’s our responsibility to ensure that every meeting not only moves the needle forward but also fosters a sense of ownership and collaboration. With the right framework, meetings can become a key driver for engagement, alignment, and growth.

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The Tip

Remember to… to set and stick to your agenda.

Preparation is key: Send the agenda 24 to 48 hours in advance. This gives your team enough time to prepare, ensuring they come ready to engage. It also helps them understand the meeting’s purpose and avoid distractions.
Respect everyone’s time: Stick to the schedule, and be mindful of ending the meeting on time. In fact, consider shortening the meeting by 5 to 10 minutes. When you give back time to your team, they will appreciate it, and the efficiency will improve the overall productivity of your meetings.
Have a clear goal: Whether you’re brainstorming ideas, aligning on a project, or discussing challenges, every agenda item should be aligned with a specific goal. A well-defined agenda ensures meetings stay on track and that no time is wasted.

“The best meetings are the ones where everyone knows what’s expected, what will be achieved, and leaves with clear action items.”

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The Tool

Short Video: Video on the 5 tips to create an engaging team meeting (LinkedIn)

In this video, I’ll walk you through five actionable strategies you can implement in your next meeting to make it more engaging and impactful. These strategies aren’t just about managing time—they’re about transforming the way your team collaborates and develops. The tips include:

Set and Stick to Your Agenda – Be clear, share it in advance, and respect everyone’s time.
Use Team Meeting Activities – Think of these as purposeful drills, not just icebreakers. These activities should be geared toward skill-building or problem-solving, with clear objectives and a debrief for takeaway action.
Define the Purpose and Goal – Every meeting should have a clear "why" and a goal for what needs to be achieved.
Foster a 'Yes, And' Culture – Encourage collaboration and avoid shutting down ideas. Build on contributions to create a more inclusive and creative environment.
Be a Leader in the Meeting – Keep the meeting moving forward, ensure everyone has a voice, and maintain control of the discussion to ensure productivity.

Watch the video to learn more (TikTok) and implement these tips for your next team meeting. By applying these strategies, you'll not only enhance collaboration but also create a culture of engagement, ownership, and commitment within your team.

Want the box of Team Meeting Activity Cards? Grab them here.

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Leadership Question of the week…

Here is the top question this week from our Complete Leader Package Leadership Questions download. Don’t have this download? Get instant access here.

❓How do you decide what to work on first each week?
❓What’s been the biggest challenge in staying on top of everything?
❓What can I do to help you focus on the work that’s most important?

Watch the video walk-through here

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Activity of the week…

Here is the top activity this week from our 52 Team Meeting Activity Cards. Don’t have these download? Get your physical copy here OR a printable version as part of the Complete Leader Package.

Watch the activity description of the “LIFEBOAT TEST”

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Thank you again for being a great leader out there!

-Dwight & Jess

P.S. We recently launched our COMPLETE LEADER Pro: 52 Leadership Skills, 200+ Questions, 52 Team Activity Cards (printable + physical cards with box), 10 Agendas, COMPLETE Leader Playbook & more - New or Experienced Leaders. (Use code LEADER10 for 10% off)

Another great option is our COMPLETE LEADER Package. It includes 200+ leadership questions, 52 printable team meeting activity cards, 10 meeting agendas, exclusive videos, plus our popular COMPLETE LEADER Playbook. View more here and get instant access.

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