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These days, meetings are a big part of doing business and are a great tool used to create ideas, make decisions, plan projects or just stay updated.
When thinking about the types of meetings, it is clear that they differ by their size, their content and context.
As you probably know, meetings are not that black and white and often vary across these factors.
Let’s take a look at the most common types of meetings:
1. Kick-off Meetings (The Umbrella)
You’ll find these meetings at the beginning of a project, with the end result being to set clear goals and pinpoint problems to solve.
A planning or ‘kick-off’ meeting will involve the whole project team and people whose work will be affected by the project.
As a result, these meetings are larger in size and will often have people from different teams in the firm.
2. Status Update Meetings (The Routine)
Although these might not be people’s favourite meeting, status update meetings help align a team on the current state of a project and ensure everyone is on track with their tasks.
Status updates may involve all people from a project or be conducted within sub-teams that are more fluid to avoid unproductive meetings.
Status updates are often attended via a video call to avoid the bringing a large group of people together.
3. One on One Meetings (The Personal)
One on one meetings are conducted between two people, often involving a leader and their mentee or employee.
These meetings are conversational but are still designed to address a specific topic, ranging from providing feedback, tracking personal goals and relationship building.
One-on-one meetings are often scheduled in advance by a supervisor and result in a shared understanding of long-term outcomes.
4. Decision Making Meetings (The Let’s Get Serious)
These meetings are used to formally make a decision that will have large impact on the project. Formal meetings are highly structured and require more teamwork when more than one option is in play.
The people that take part in decision making meetings are either subject experts or those making the decision. These parties have broad knowledge about the subject or have the authority to impact the decision.
These meetings also decide who takes charge for the next steps. An example of a decision making meeting include whether to hire a certain person or not.
5. Problem Solving / Brainstorming Meetings (The Innovator)
These closely linked meetings are run with the sole purpose of coming up with new ideas.
Problem solving meetings greatly benefit from a diverse range of people with unique perspectives, skills and backgrounds.
Meetings can be about solving a certain problem or to create a new strategy for the future. Those that attend are often tasked with coming up with unique solutions once the scope and focus areas are defined.
These meetings provide a basis for decision making meetings where the solution is confirmed and acted upon.
6. All-hands / Team Building Meetings (The Socialiser)
All meetings improve cohesion and strengthen work culture but it should sometimes be the sole focus of a meeting. These types of meetings include corporate events and team outings.
If the members of a team feel valued, their work quality of life, job satisfaction and performance will increase.
All-hands meetings also enables the firm to be on the same page, celebrate milestones and allow employees to ask questions to the board members.
7. Workshop / Training Meetings (The Teacher)
A training or workshop meeting is designed to impart information to the team. Workshops are used to also keep staff engaged by providing the chance to learn and develop new skills.
These meetings require a lot of planning and need to be conducted in a structured and professional manner.
Learn how Meetric can make any type of meeting more productive and engaging
