Culture Works
  • What We Do
    • Fractional HR: Integrative HR
    • Recruiting
    • Consulting
  • Who We Are
    • Our Awesome Team
    • Our Purpose
    • Our Values
    • Case Stories
  • Connect With Us
    • Applicants
    • Partners
  • Free Sh*t
    • Blog
    • Wellness Resources
    • Educational Videos
    • Infographics
  • Menu Menu
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Mail

YOUR GUIDE TO STAYING AWAKE DURING ZOOM MEETINGS (and all meetings!)

Whether working from home or back in the office, Zoom has now become normal… The two options, online or in-person, however, have one thing in common: It’s hard to keep employees engaged! 

But lucky for you and your team, there are some action steps you can take to try and stay awake in meetings (zoom or not!)

Define the Purpose

Before you enter a meeting, take a moment to define the purpose. Ask yourself:

  • What do you want to share?
  • What do you hope to learn?

Clearly defining the goals of the meeting sets the stage for everyone involved and helps keep discussions focused. When everyone knows what to expect, they’re more likely to participate actively.

Tip: Share the meeting agenda in advance. This can include topics to be discussed, time allocated for each item, and any materials participants should review beforehand. This way, everyone arrives prepared and ready to engage.

Plan Your Space

Creating a distraction-free environment is essential, whether you’re on a Zoom call or in a conference room. Here’s how:

  • Tidy Up: A clean workspace can help you focus. Make sure you have all the materials you need within reach before the meeting starts.
  • Silence Distractions: Mute your phone and let others know you’re in “do not disturb” mode. If you’re joining virtually, log in a few minutes early to troubleshoot any tech issues.
  • Get Comfortable: Check your video and audio settings to avoid interruptions. In an in-person setting, make sure the room is set up to encourage open communication.

Stay Engaged

Engagement is key to a productive meeting. Here are some tips to help everyone stay involved:

  • Acknowledge Others: When you speak, refer back to what others have said. This shows you’re listening and helps everyone feel heard. In virtual meetings, it’s especially important to connect ideas to keep the conversation flowing.
  • Ask Questions: If you find yourself zoning out or losing track of the conversation, speak up! Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification on any new topics. Chances are, others might have the same question.
  • Take Notes: Keep a notepad handy to jot down important points and any stray thoughts that pop into your head. Writing things down helps you stay engaged and makes it easier to return to those thoughts later.

Now, We Need to Talk About Productivity and Meetings

There’s no magic number for how many meetings are too many in a week, but here are some guidelines to help you find the right balance:

  • Limit meetings to 20% of your time: A common recommendation is to limit meetings to 20% of your time each week, which is about one day or eight hours of work. Encourage your team to assess the necessity of each meeting.
  • Keep meetings short: Aim for meetings to be efficient and no longer than 30 minutes. If discussions require more time, consider breaking them into smaller, focused sessions.
  • Eliminate unnecessary meetings: Evaluate which meetings provide the most value and eliminate those that are unnecessary or could be handled asynchronously through emails or collaborative documents.
  • Avoid back-to-back meetings: Scheduling back-to-back meetings can hinder focus and impede task completion. Consider implementing buffer times between meetings for breaks or preparation.

Research from Harvard Business Review shows that too many meetings can decrease productivity. A cluttered schedule can lead to:

  • Analysis paralysis
  • Management by committee
  • Micromanagement
  • Disgruntled employees
  • Technology fatigue

Culture Check: Are You Doing Enough?

If your employees are searching for ways to stay awake in meetings, it might signal a deeper issue with your workplace culture. A strong company culture fosters engagement without relying on endless meetings.

Here are some strategies to improve the overall meeting experience:

  • Assess Meeting Necessity: Evaluate which meetings are truly necessary. Could some topics be addressed via email or in a collaborative document? Streamlining meetings can help ensure only essential discussions take place.
  • Limit Meeting Time: Aim for meetings to be no longer than 30 minutes. If discussions require more time, consider breaking them into smaller, focused sessions. Shorter meetings can lead to more energy and focus.
  • Encourage Participation: Create an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts. Use icebreakers or open-ended questions to stimulate conversation and encourage quieter team members to share their perspectives.
  • Follow Up: After meetings, summarize key points and action items and share them with attendees. This reinforces accountability and keeps everyone aligned on next steps.

Consider implementing Culture Works Quarterly Game Plans (QGP). These plans clarify objectives and encourage collaboration, making meetings more effective and enjoyable. When employees feel valued and engaged, they’re more likely to participate actively.

Final Thoughts

Building a strong company culture, especially during transitions, is crucial for your business’s success. Engaging meetings lead to happier employees and better productivity.

If you want to optimize your HR practices and create a thriving company culture, reach out to us at Culture Works. We’re here to help you build a workplace that inspires and motivates your team!

The Power of Conscious Capitalism: Transforming Organizations for Sustainable Success

April 8, 2024/by Culture Works

2025: HR’s Essential Role at the C-Suite Table

January 3, 2025/by Culture Works

Purpose and Profit: Do the two go hand in hand?

August 3, 2020/by Culture Works

EQ: Coaching vs. Coaxing – What’s the Difference? 

March 13, 2025/by Culture Works

How to Avoid Culture Shock During Your Merger

April 25, 2021/by Culture Works

How to Prevent the Great Resignation in your Business

January 31, 2022/by Culture Works

Unlocking Success: The Power of Developing KSAs in Your Team

November 19, 2023/by Culture Works

Navigating Modern Leadership: Insights and Strategies for Success

June 9, 2024/by Culture Works

HRIS, HCM, and HXM: What Are They and Why Do They Matter?

May 22, 2022/by Culture Works

Culture Accountability: Why it is Essential in Creating a Strong Company Culture

April 16, 2023/by Culture Works

Please Make Mistakes at Work!

October 17, 2021/by Culture Works

Top 10 Best and Worst Mergers of All Time!

September 12, 2021/by Culture Works

Search

Categories

Latest News

  • Turning Strategy into Action: Why Operational HR is the Unsung Hero of Business SuccessMay 9, 2025 - 1:20 pm
  • AI, HR and the Future of Workforce ManagementMay 4, 2025 - 1:30 pm
  • HR Budgeting: From Reactive Chaos to Proactive SuccessApril 25, 2025 - 12:59 pm

CONNECT WITH US

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Count me in!

Practical steps you can take to make your company culture (and yourself) even better.

Signup for our newsletter below to stay up-to-date on our latest HR news & insights!

LINKS

Privacy Policy

FAQs

CONTACT

(760) 334-4094

info@cultureworkshr.com

29970 Technology Drive
Murrieta, CA 92563

HOURS

Mon-Fri: 7:00-4:00
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed

CONNECT WITH US!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

© 2024 Culture Works – all rights reserved

site design by digitalstoryteller.io

© 2024 Culture Works – all rights reserved
site design by digitalstoryteller.io

Top HR Challenges in the Manufacturing Industry and How to Overcome ThemCompetence vs. Credentials: How the New Focus on Skills will Drive Productivity... Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Accept settings

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Other cookies

The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Accept settings