| The boss walks in your office and casually asks you | | | | the colors of ties he wore. The people who correctly |
| to increase sales by 20% and he has given you three | | | | write down the colors of ties win a prize. |
| days to complete the task. You are a little surprised | | | | 5. Throughout the meeting ask everyone to perform |
| by the request but you gladly accept the assignment. | | | | an outrageous task that must be completed by the |
| Before he leaves your office he asks you to cut the | | | | next meeting. For example, ask the manager of the |
| cost of doing business by 30%. He has kindly given | | | | advertising department to obtain free advertising for |
| you five days to complete the task. Some may be | | | | the company on national television. If they respond in |
| horrified by the assignments but you smile and tell | | | | disbelief simply say "You heard me." Everyone will |
| your boss you will give it your best effort. Later in | | | | wonder what outrageous assignment will be tossed |
| the day, he walks back in your office and says | | | | their way during the meeting and the anticipation will |
| something that's frightening. You begin to sweat. He | | | | add some excitement to the meeting. |
| has asked you to do something that's almost | | | | 6. Hire a comedian to sit in the meeting and take |
| impossible. He has asked you to make the next | | | | notes. Frequently ask him to repeat comments that |
| company meeting exciting. He can hear you gasping. | | | | the attendees have made. Have him intentionally |
| You want to scream "Please give this assignment to | | | | misquote them. The incorrect quotes cause the |
| someone else." You want to shout "That's an out of | | | | attendees to seem arrogant, rude, silly, selfish etc. |
| this world task." You calm down, find some courage | | | | For example, "My intelligence is simply astonishing." |
| and boldly take the assignment. You can't think small. | | | | Have the comedian misquote a response a timid |
| Handing out hats won't be sufficient. Telling a cute | | | | employee made to one of your comments, "Boss, |
| story won't be enough. | | | | that's outrageous and I simply won't allow it." Smile |
| Here are 10 Things you can do to keep a meeting | | | | and the group will laugh. |
| exciting: | | | | 7. Hire a singer to attend the meeting. Inform the |
| | | | group the new employee was highly recommended |
| 1. Announce to the group that during the meeting | | | | by an employment agency and will be a great asset |
| you will be mentioning three things that are not true. | | | | to the company. Whenever you ask him questions he |
| Inform the attendees the untrue remarks might be | | | | responds by singing answers in different music styles; |
| personal or about business. The people who come up | | | | perhaps with a country music slant or hip hop. Simply |
| with the three incorrect comments partake in a raffle | | | | shake your head after he sings. |
| and the winner receives a free dinner for two at a | | | | 8. Have an artist sit in the room and make caricature |
| posh restaurant or perhaps they get Friday off with | | | | portraits of attendees of the meeting. Keeping the |
| pay. People will be intently listening and it will add | | | | portraits a mystery until the end of the meeting will |
| some fun to the meeting. | | | | add some excitement. Let the employees place their |
| 2. Have the CEO of the company enter the meeting | | | | portrait in their office or take it home to show their |
| and gladly refill coffee cups and water glasses. | | | | family and friends. |
| Perhaps he's wearing a tuxedo. He offers people a | | | | 9. Inform the attendees there will be a quiz on the |
| pillow for their chairs. The CEO provides tasty snack | | | | content of the meeting. The person who has the |
| to the attendees. He passes out teddy bears to | | | | most correct answers wins a desirable prize. The |
| everyone. The CEO enters the meeting several times | | | | employees will be paying more attention during the |
| and doesn't say a word. This will create anticipation | | | | meeting. |
| and smiles. | | | | 10. Without informing the attendees of the upcoming |
| 3. Hire a temporary employee to bring in numerous | | | | quiz, sprinkle famous quotes from movies into the |
| boxes, one at a time and stack them in a corner. If | | | | meeting. Place the quotes in awkward situations in |
| someone gets curious and asks you what's in the | | | | order to make the employees curious about the use |
| boxes tell him you can't talk about it until the meeting | | | | of the movie quotes. Whoever writes down the |
| is over. Have the temporary employee shake his | | | | most quotes that are accompanied by the correct |
| head as he leaves the room and ask you "Are you | | | | movie wins a prize. |
| sure you want these boxes in here?" Contemplate | | | | Don't just have a goal to make the meeting |
| for a little bit and say "I think so." For added | | | | interesting or appealing; make the meeting exciting. |
| excitement have an alarm go off in one of the | | | | The employees will appreciate your effort and it will |
| boxes. Get up, grab the alarm clock and without | | | | create a wonderful rapport with the employees. Be |
| people noticing, set it ring in 10 minutes. Repeat the | | | | innovative once in awhile and you will have a happier |
| process several times. At the end of the meeting | | | | office. |
| open the boxes and pull out some tasty snacks or | | | | Many of these tips can work well for face to face |
| gift certificates for the attendees. | | | | meetings and even web conferencing meetings. If |
| 4. Have an employee occasionally enter the meeting | | | | you are planning an audio only teleconference |
| room and ask you "Have you told them yet?" | | | | meeting Numbers 1, 4, 5, 9, and even 10 will spice up |
| Answer "No I have not." This will make the | | | | your conference calls. It's time to get creative with |
| employees curious and alert. Each time he walks in | | | | your own meetings and "think outside the box" when |
| the room he wears a different color tie. At the end | | | | it comes to keeping your meetings exciting! |
| of the meeting ask the employees to write down | | | | |