Energised Online Meetings: 6 Ways to Strengthen Team Spirit
More and more of us are being asked to hold meetings online—and by now, we have largely become accustomed to it. Long car journeys and flights, as well as countless overnight stays in hotels, are becoming less frequent.
We spend much more time at home, which certainly has its advantages. At the same time, online meetings lack the personal interaction that usually takes place during coffee breaks: the informal conversations on the sidelines, the opportunity to make sure we have understood someone correctly or the chance to give a colleague some quick feedback. Online, we remain visible throughout the meeting. There are no spontaneous coffee-break conversations and fewer opportunities for brief informal exchanges. We therefore need to find new ways to prepare for meetings together and maintain team spirit. Every small gesture—and particularly every facial expression—is even more noticeable in an online meeting than in a face-to-face meeting. It is therefore important to create moments in which everyone can relax and share a laugh.
If you are planning an online meeting, here are six practical ways to make it a success. You can, of
course, adapt these rituals or introduce entirely different ones—whatever suits you and your team best.
Six Ways to Strengthen Team Spirit
1. Welcome the Participants
| Depending on the size of the group, welcome each participant personally and by name. |
2. Check the Sound and Video Quality
| Make sure everyone can see and hear one another clearly. You might also ask participants where they are joining from. |
3. Begin with a Shared Ritual
| Start with a short ritual that brings everyone to a similar energy level, even though they may be sitting in completely different places.
For the first few minutes, invite everyone to take off their shoes, close their eyes and sit upright on the front edge of their chair. Pause briefly at the end of the exhalation and repeat the exercise four more times. Afterwards, rest the hands on the thighs with the palms facing upwards.Keep the eyes closed for another one or two minutes and notice any changes in the body and mind. Then open the eyes—and begin the meeting. |
4. Take a Short Break
| During a longer meeting, take a short break after 60 to 75 minutes. Five to seven minutes is enough time to stretch your legs, get something to drink or go to the bathroom. |
5. Make a Later Break More Energising
| If, for whatever reason, the first break cannot take place until after 90 minutes, I recommend pausing for ten minutes. You might also use a hula hoop for three minutes or do 20 press-ups. This revitalises the mind and may spare you the cup of coffee that often leaves you feeling even more tired afterwards. |
6. End with a Shared Ritual
| Once the date of the next meeting has been agreed, sit upright on the front edge of your chair once more and allow your hands to rest on your thighs. With your lips gently closed, hum for two minutes. This feels good, releases tension and helps create a positive sense of connection within the team. |
Know Your Leadership Type
When you know whether you are an Achiever, a Creator or a Sustainer, you will also understand your own behaviour during meetings more clearly.
Imagine that you are an Achiever and are leading a meeting. You know that lengthy explanations and people avoiding the main point can quickly become frustrating for you. How can you use this knowledge constructively?
You might say:
“Today, let us keep things concise and focus directly on the key issues. Please explain your point of view in no more than two minutes.”
This ensures that everyone knows what is expected. As an Achiever, you will not have to shift impatiently in your chair or stare tensely into the camera.
If you are a Creator, keep an agenda in front of you and work through it point by point. Your enthusiasm can turn any meeting into a stimulating experience.
However, you also know that you can occasionally drift away from the subject and bring your latest vision to the forefront. During meetings that are
already running longer than planned, this may frustrate the other participants. Keep an eye on the time as well—your team will thank you.
Are you a Sustainer? Then do a few squats before the meeting so that you can begin with energy and enthusiasm. With your remarkable patience, you are the ideal person to lead important meetings in which controversial issues need to be discussed. Maintain your energy, and your meeting will be a success.
Healthy communication is particularly important in times like these.
Take another look at your leadership qualities and use them to prepare for the different personalities you will encounter in your next meeting.