Tips for ensuring focus in a meeting

Meetings are crucial to come together and discuss the important matters and the agendas at hand. Ensuring the focus of yourself and your team members is incredibly important to stay on topic, get the most out of your team and ensure the meeting time is used wisely. At the New Forest Collection, we have a selection of charming meeting spaces to step away from the office and get your heads together in a refreshing and relaxing space. 

Why is it important to ensure focus in a meeting?

Meetings are a cornerstone of collaboration, but let’s face it, they can often become unproductive or tiresome, especially when you have a head full of things to do. Maintaining focus, both for yourself and your team, is essential to making the most of your meeting time and achieving desired outcomes.

Below we’ve listed a few reasons why focus in a meeting is important: 

1. Boosts productivity and efficiency: A focused meeting stays on track, avoids tangents, and allows for clear decision-making. This translates to quicker progress, more tasks accomplished, and less wasted time for everyone involved
2. Enhances clarity and understanding: Focused discussions ensure everyone grasps the key points, objectives, and next steps. This clarity minimises confusion, misinterpretations, and the need for follow-up clarifications, saving time and preventing rework.
3. Promotes active participation and engagement: When the topic stays relevant, team members are more likely to actively listen, contribute ideas, and feel invested in the discussion. This fosters a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are heard and valued.
4. Improves decision-making quality: Focusing on pertinent information allows for informed and well-considered decisions. Distractions and irrelevant discussions cloud judgment and can lead to suboptimal outcomes.
5. Builds team morale and respect: Effective meetings demonstrate respect for everyone’s time and valuable contributions. Focused discussions show organisation, preparation, and appreciation for team members’ expertise, leading to increased morale and motivation
6. Reduces stress and frustration: Unfocused meetings can be frustrating and stressful for everyone involved. Maintaining focus creates a calmer, more productive environment, reducing stress and allowing participants to contribute their best.
7. Strengthens communication skills: When focused on specific topics, team members learn to communicate concisely and effectively. They practice active listening, ask clarifying questions, and avoid rambling, leading to improved communication skills across the board.
8. Creates a culture of accountability: Focused meetings set clear expectations and action items. This fosters a culture of accountability where everyone understands their role and is held responsible for their contributions, driving progress and achieving goals.

Tips for ensuring focus in a meeting

Set clear objectives:
Clearly define the purpose and objectives of the meeting. Having a clear agenda helps participants stay focused on the key topics.

Limit Meeting Duration:
Keep meetings as short as possible while still addressing the necessary topics. This encourages participants to stay engaged and focused.

Invite Relevant Participants:
Only invite individuals who are essential to the discussion. Having too many people in a meeting can lead to distractions and off-topic conversations.

Use an Agenda:
Distribute a meeting agenda in advance. This allows participants to prepare and know what to expect, increasing their engagement.

Establish Ground Rules:
Set ground rules for the meeting, such as no multitasking or side conversations. Reinforce the importance of being present and attentive.

Encourage Participation:
Encourage active participation to keep everyone engaged. This could involve asking questions, seeking input, or assigning specific roles to participants.

Utilize Technology Wisely:
Leverage technology to your advantage, such as screen sharing, collaborative documents, or video conferencing. However, be mindful of potential distractions from electronic devices.

Take Breaks:
If the meeting is lengthy, schedule short breaks to allow participants to refresh and refocus. This can prevent fatigue and improve overall engagement.

Stand-Up Meetings:
Consider conducting stand-up meetings, especially for quick updates. Standing can help keep the energy level up and keep the meeting focused on essential points.

Follow Up:
Summarise key points at the end of the meeting and communicate any action items. This reinforces the importance of the discussion and provides clarity on the next steps.

Manage Time Effectively:
Stick to the allocated time for each agenda item. This helps maintain momentum and prevents the meeting from dragging on.

Lead by Example:
If you are leading the meeting, model the behaviour you expect from others. Stay focused, avoid distractions, and actively contribute to the discussion.

Create a Distraction-Free Environment:
Choose a quiet and comfortable meeting space, whether in-person or virtual, to minimize external distractions.

Staying in the New Forest

At the New Forest Collection, you can enjoy all the perks of a professional and fully-equipped meeting space with the added beauty of the gorgeous New Forest National Park outside and abundant hotel facilities for a relaxed, extended stay in an enchanting location.

We have a host of fantastic meeting rooms available to cater to the business side of your corporate retreat or working day out. Our meeting spaces are perfect for brainstorming sessions, creative meetings and collaborative thinking where you can enjoy professional comfort, unlimited hot drinks and refreshments and tackle ideas together. We have a selection of venues across our collection, ensuring you find the right space for your team.

Bartley Lodge’s event space can accommodate up to 150 delegates and offers team building days and various meeting rooms for a variety of corporate activities, onsite working, and some team downtime, should you wish to step back from work and enjoy the wider space and activities available within the New Forest. Bartley Lodge is just minutes away from the M27 for easy access when travelling via car and you’ll find a flexible range of meeting spaces, beautiful terraced areas and magnificent lawns for inspiring conversation and a chance to admire the world around, hopefully bringing forth new ideas for the problems at hand.

Beaulieu Inn can accommodate up to 250 guests within its elegant interiors, providing the perfect location for team building and a spectacular corporate party venue. Beaulieu Inn also offers an outdoor paddock with views of the surrounding heathland and country sports activities to get the adrenaline flowing and team morale high!

Our other venues include Forest Lodge, a contemporary townhouse with delightful views and great travel links. You’ll be in the perfect location to explore the foodie town of Lyndhurst and just four miles from the M27 for easy travel to us. Forest Lodge is a gorgeous boutique townhouse and the perfect space for a corporate escape with a balance of important meetings and essential downtime.

Burley Manor is perhaps the most grand venue in the collection. A Baronial Manor House is known for romantic escapes, gorgeous views and relaxing downtime. The Burley Manor meeting space houses up to 100 delegates in converted barns, while also providing delicious food in the onsite restaurant. The original barn offers the perfect location for brainstorming during the day and a fabulous location to enjoy the beauty of the New Forest in your free time.

Each location is also home to an abundance of gorgeous hotel rooms, onsite restaurants, indoor swimming pools in Bartley Lodge, Forest Lodge and Beaulieu Inn, onsite EV charging, and picturesque green spaces. Whether you’re nearby searching for a relaxing day space to get your team together and resolve a company issue, or searching for a more private venue to enjoy some work and play, the New Forest Collection provides the perfect middle ground. Private meeting rooms, sweeping green vistas, hot drinks and refreshments and native ponies roaming wild: the perfect place to take a breath and face the day while remaining excited for the night to yourself.