Let's face it. A team meeting is something in the workspace that people love and hate — team meetings are an effective way to align information and facilitate discussion, while they are often dull and tiring.
Well, time changes and team meetings can also be fun and inspiring, with a few tweaks here and there.
Whether you're hosting an online meeting or gathering physically in the same room, with the easy-to-implement team meeting ideas and topics in this blog post, you'll definitely know how to liven up the next meeting and get everyone involved!
22 Fun Ideas for Staff Meetings
If you're stuck in a rut with the same staff meetings week after week, we've got just the thing for you - 22 fun team meeting ideas to shake things up! From energizing meeting icebreakers and collaborative activities to creative games and more, our list of ideas will keep your meetings lively, so your employees are excited to attend.
1. Have a “talent show”
A talent show is a fun way to break the ice and get to know each other better by showcasing everyone's hidden talents, whether they be singing, telling jokes, or even doing magic tricks – the possibilities are truly endless.
You can encourage participation by offering rewards.
Hosting a “talent show” will bring good vibes to the workspace, create bonds between co-workers, and spur creativity.
2. Host a fun quiz
Hosting a fun quiz could be a great way to get everyone relaxed before the meeting.
It doesn't take much:
Create some questions: involve staff members in designing the questions so they can showcase their knowledge while adding an element of surprise.
Choose a format: You could have teams competing against each other or one person going solo through all the questions.
Prepare a timer and prizes: Set aside time for each round of the quiz, and make sure you have an award for each person who makes it to the end!
3. Workout between meetings
Another team meeting idea is a 5-minute workout to release stress and have fun – perfect for recharging during long meetings. So why not challenge your team to get fit and bond at the same time?
Some workouts you can do between meetings include yoga, brisk walking, hula hoop, and plank. All these are simple activities to refresh your mind and body.
Avoid activities that are too strenuous, as you don’t know how physically fit all your team members are, and you want to also be able to actually talk about work.
4. Work skills workshop
A Skills workshop can be a great way for coworkers to bond and learn from each other.
In this case, the workshop should focus on skills employees need to be successful in daily work or their careers. Some workshop topics include time management, email writing, and negotiation skills.
You can touch base with team members to learn their interests and needs; therefore, conduct workshops that can help them develop their work competencies.
5. Start off your meetings with a gratitude exercise
Taking just a few minutes to reflect on the unique things we're thankful for each week helps bring a team together and reminds you why you do what you do.
Plus, it doesn't have to be big or earth-shaking to count – it could be something as simple as finally finding your lost keys or making progress on an exciting project!
With such an easy way to promote team bonding and reinvigorate everyone's spirits, this activity won't take long but definitely makes all the difference.
6. Invite a guest speaker
Here's an innovative and fun idea for team meetings: invite different speakers or tutors with specialist knowledge to host short sessions for your team. They could be someone within or outside your organization. Make sure you research beforehand and find speakers with the appropriate skills and knowledge that your team can benefit from.
This will not only be entertaining but informative as well. What's better than learning new things in a fun, relaxed setting with colleagues?
7. Play “Guess the song”
It's a great way to get to know your coworkers and bond over some awesome tunes.
Get everyone into a circle, pick an upbeat tune, and have one person start off by singing or humming the intro. Everyone else has to take turns trying to guess what song it is. See who can guess it first! Then move on to the next person and repeat until everyone has had a turn. Enjoy!
8. Get creative with themed meetings
A themed meeting is a gathering during which your team members dress according to a certain theme. Themes can range from a specific color or style to something more complex such as characters from a movie or television show.
Who said work had to be serious all the time? Embrace some lighthearted fun and make it an event no one will forget.
9. Hold mini-competitions
Mini competitions are smaller versions of regular competitions that involve fewer participants and usually offer limited prizes.
Word scrambles, trivia shows, and armchair Olympics are all great options that can get everyone involved.
Be sure to award points for creativity, accuracy, and other key factors to make it more challenging and exciting.
10. Plan a pre-meeting lunch
It's important to get to know your co-workers, so why not use a pre-meeting lunch as a chance to bond? You can plan the event ahead of time and send out an invitation that includes a menu, agenda, and location.
Make sure to choose a restaurant or other venue that's comfortable for everyone. You can chat about topics unrelated to work and even plan fun teambuilding games. When you're done eating, it'll be time to go back to work with stronger connections among colleagues!
11. Outdoor meeting
Do you always conduct your meetings in a designated room? If yes, then it is time to change the location and bring fresh air.
Being outdoors can help people expand their thinking and view problems in new ways during team meetings by providing a change of scenery, a casual environment, and an open space that encourages communication.
An outdoor meeting spot can be anything from a park or beach to an outdoor patio at a restaurant. Get creative and find something that works for you and your coworkers!
12. Host breakout sessions
Breakout sessions are fun activities in larger team meetings that break the regular meeting schedule and allow attendees to engage with others.
The sessions could be time-boxed to 10 minutes when smaller groups of participants discuss specific topics or issues. Following the session, give everyone time to relax and revitalize before returning to work
13. Create a unique meeting tradition
One of the best team meeting ideas is creating a meeting tradition unique to your team and aligning with the organization’s work culture, which will establish rapport between your members.
The meeting tradition can be something fun, like everyone in the office bringing a unique food item to share, or something more meaningful, like suggesting everyone share one thing they learned during the week.
Make it open-ended so that people are encouraged to come up with their own ideas.
14. Incorporate mindfulness exercises
Mindfulness exercises are another staff meeting idea to add variety and joy to the regular workday.
When added to the meeting agenda, these activities help create an atmosphere of collaboration, allowing team members to take a step back and connect with each other before getting back on track with tasks.
A good example of mindfulness exercise is meditation, where team members sit comfortably with their backs straight and slowly inhale and exhale for a few breaths to relax.
15. Have field trip meetings
Going out of the office and having field trip walk meetings can help break down communication barriers and create a more relaxed atmosphere where colleagues are able to share thoughts, ideas, and even laughs.
Organizing a field trip can take some planning. Here’s how to get started:
Choose a scenic destination, preferably nearby.
Set up transportation.
Make sure there are activities planned during the trip so that the meeting won't feel too long or monotonous.
Bring snacks and drinks along so that everyone is well-nourished throughout the duration of the meeting-trip combo!
16. Schedule after-meeting social events
This gives your employees something to look forward to! Use the event to encourage employees to get to know each other personally. Discuss non-work related topics such as hobbies, interests, and family life.
Here are a few tips for pulling this off:
Consult with participants about what types of events they would like to do.
Brainstorm ideas and make sure everyone agrees on the ideas that come up.
Plan the event ahead of time and provide detailed instructions on what to expect.
Take pictures during the after-meeting activities.
17. Bring your pets
Studies have shown that being around animals can lower blood pressure and relieve stress, so why not bring your cute pets to the meeting?
However, it is essential to establish guidelines for bringing pets to work to ensure everyone is safe and comfortable. Some rules could include the following:
All pets must be up to date on their vaccinations and have a clean bill of health.
Employees must clean up after their pets and ensure they do not disturb other colleagues or workspaces.
Pets should be well-behaved and trained to follow basic commands such as "sit," "stay," and "come."
18. Write collaborative stories
Collaborative story writing at the beginning or end of the meeting is a fun idea that allows the team to connect and explore ideas in an engaging manner.
In this activity, you can start with a sentence that gives background, then members brainstorm plotlines and lead characters and ultimately construct your own tailor-made piece.
19. Host an interactive meeting with props
Hosting an interactive meeting with props, such as whiteboards and markers, is a great team meeting idea to make a meeting more engaging.
Start by setting up the props, for example, a whiteboard, which everyone can use to create a mind map or outline discussion topics. Encourage participants to contribute their ideas and add to the board using different colors and fonts to keep the discussion interesting and visually engaging.
20. Bring food to the meeting
Hosting a potluck or bringing snacks to meetings can be a great way to make the experience more enjoyable for employees, especially if the meeting lasts several hours.
To execute this idea, you can create a sign-up sheet for employees to bring in different dishes, making sure to ask for various food and beverage options. You can also let employees know that participation is entirely voluntary, and they are welcome to bring something as simple as store-bought cookies or fruits.
21. Create a music-listening party
Invite everyone to bring their favorite tunes, then afterward, have a gathering in the main team meeting space to play the music and discuss why they chose these songs or artists.
It's a great excuse to give everyone an opportunity to express themselves and get to know one another on a personal level. Plus, it’s totally free and can be done from any location – so it's also an excellent cost-effective team bonding solution!
22. Engage in show and tell
Show and Tell is a classic game that can also be adapted to virtual meetings to increase employee engagement and interaction.
During the meeting, set aside some time for each employee to present an object and explain why and what it means to them. Encourage everyone to ask questions and engage with each other throughout the process.
To make things even more exciting, you could give out awards for the most interesting object, most meaningful object, or the best presentation.
Best 10 Team Meeting Discussion Topics
Managers and employers often struggle to come up with topics that get the team talking, working together, and staying on task. That's why we've put together a list of the top 10 discussion topics for teams that will help ensure that your meetings are meaningful and successful.
From generating creative problem-solving strategies, and boosting employee morale, to building strong communication habits - this list has it all!
1. Work wins
Utilizing “work wins” as a team meeting topic allows leaders to focus on the accomplishments their employees are making and discuss ways to further build on them.
These meetings should empower everyone within an organization, highlighting strengths and offering creative solutions to areas that need a boost of support.
Creative thinking within these meetings is essential; it's a chance to recognize achievements, encourage growth, and emphasize that every member is integral in achieving success in the workplace.
2. Predictions
Predictions of the future make for an intriguing meeting topic. Interesting aspects to explore could be scientific or technological breakthroughs, cultural and social trends, or current happenings in the industry.
Uncovering different perspectives can give insight into how people interpret our current era, and how they envision it unfolding.
3. Customer stories
Using customer stories as a meeting topic is a great way to understand customers and improve marketing strategies.
To get started, teams should collect customer stories from a variety of sources, including customer feedback surveys, customer service interactions, social media, and user research studies. Then they take turns sharing the stories.
By using customer stories in team meetings, teams can stay focused on the needs of their customers and create products and services that truly meet their needs.
4. Strategic initiatives
Strategic initiatives refer to the action plans or projects that an organization undertakes to achieve its long-term goals and objectives.
These initiatives typically involve making strategic choices that will shape the direction of the organization, such as:
Investing resources in new technologies
Diversifying markets
Expanding operations
Developing new products or services.
Discussing strategic actions with employees shows that their opinions are valued and new ideas will be brought up. Open up the dialogue surrounding strategic initiatives at your next meeting and watch your business soar!
5. Ambitions and goals
It's always a great idea to make ambitions and goals one of the scheduled topics at meetings. Through open discussion, everyone can come up with achievable targets they are all working towards.
By evaluating how far you have come, you can also inspire yourself to take action on whatever obstacles may be in your way.
Looking closely at what resonates with each person involved can help participants better understand what drives them, therefore developing more realistic aspirations for their professional and personal lives that truly reflect their values.
6. Organizational culture
Frequent meetings centered around organizational culture can help define workplace expectations, identify areas of improvement, and strengthen overall employee morale.
Addressing cultural issues in meetings gives leaders an opportunity to reflect on current attitudes and behaviors while taking proactive measures that can reduce potential conflicts down the road.
7. Remote work
With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing many companies to switch to remote work, this is a relevant topic that could help employees adjust to the new work environment and ensure that they are performing at their best.
During the meeting, you could discuss tips and best practices for remote work, such as setting up a workspace, establishing a routine, and maintaining communication with coworkers. Encourage employees to share their own tips and experiences, so you know how to better manage a remote team.
You could also use this meeting as an opportunity to introduce any new software or tools that can help with remote work or provide training on using existing ones more effectively.
8. Customer segmentation
Companies that want to maximize sales must consider customer segmentation. This is the process of dividing customers into different categories based on characteristics such as demographics, interests, and behaviors.
Breaking down customers into segments makes it easier to target them individually with tailored strategies and products. With this information in mind, it’s no surprise that customer segmentation is often a popular topic for meetings — the goal is to figure out the best way to categorize customers in order to optimize profits.
Discussions typically revolve around marketing tactics, data analysis, and research methods for gathering insights about different customer groups.
9. Product risks
Discussing product risks is a vital component of successful business meetings. Knowing the product's potential risks and proactively identifying viable solutions can help mitigate further losses or damages.
Dedicate part of the meeting to analyzing possible risks associated with current products and services, as well as budgeting for future risk management systems. Furthermore, if certain risks are still present even after every precaution is taken, how you and your team can respond quickly and effectively should be addressed during the meeting.
10. Interpersonal relationships
Developing strong interpersonal relationships is an essential part of becoming a successful professional and gaining meaningful knowledge in a wide range of topics, as it opens your team up to different perspectives from other team members and departments.
It is important for those leading the meeting to take time for an open dialogue on difficult topics that may be coming in the way of building interpersonal relations, such as differing backgrounds, disagreements among team members, or any potential sources of tension, which will help create a more inclusive workspace.
Engage team members with these fun meeting ideas
The team meeting idea list is too long to include anything. No matter what activity your team does, the important takeaway is that there are countless fun meeting ideas to foster a sense of togetherness amongst your team and bring joy to tedious meetings.
Ranee has worked in the SaaS industry for nearly ten years. She loves working with, learning from, and helping develop effective leaders and is willing to share her thoughts through words. Outside of work, you can find her dancing, hiking in the mountains, or reading in a cafe.
