Have you ever been sitting in a meeting eagerly wishing it would come to an end? Maybe you’re thinking as the popular meme reads, “This meeting could’ve been an email.” We’ve been there too! But can you also recall those times when you’ve sat face to face among your team, clients, or potential donors and made amazing progress, cultivated great conversation, and crushed an idea or project together? That’s what great meetings can do, and being in the right space can make all the difference between an invigorating brainstorm meeting and one where you’re just watching the clock.
Facilitating an offsite meeting is a great opportunity to convene a group of people for direct communication whether you already have a typical space available to meet or not. Getting your team out of their normal environment will help mix things up and stimulate new ideas. Choose a conference room that is creative and inspiring for your attendees while also ensuring it is comfortable and accessible for everyone. If you are planning a gathering with people you regularly meet with, consider the offsite meeting more of a treat. Allow this to be a chance to go over and beyond to make this session special. You can do this by providing a gift such as a new notebook and pen or some delicious snacks just to name a couple of ideas.
As you search for an offsite conference room, there are a few characteristics you may consider. First, what size space do you need? If you are meeting with just a couple of colleagues or clients, perhaps a more intimate round table would be best. If you have a larger number of attendees you will want to find more of a boardroom to accommodate your guests. To ensure the best conversations, dialogue, and ideas, make sure the environment will be comfortable for the entirety of your time together such as chairs, temperature, and limited distractions.
Most likely there are other features you will need to utilize. If you are planning on making a presentation or sharing your computer screen, make sure your meeting space has a TV or monitor with all required accessibility features. If you are going to be brainstorming together, choose a room with a whiteboard to jot down ideas. Finally, keep everyone alert and hydrated with coffee, tea, and water which is much easier when it is included by the venue.
Meetings can get a bad reputation sometimes, but as you may have felt this past year there is great value to collaborating in person with others. So if you’re thinking about scheduling time with your colleagues, don’t hesitate to put a new meeting on the calendar. If you’re looking for a meeting room in the Nashville, TN area, Three One Three has spaces at all of our locations for your off-site or weekly team meetings. No membership needed. Book a space now directly from our website or contact us if you have any questions.
