Nobody thinks of a meeting as their favourite part of the day and yet, on average, UK workers waste a year of their lives in meetings (16 hours per week). For workers in the public sector, the time spent in pointless meetings is even higher, with civil servants spending up to 22 hours a week in meetings. One-third of that time is estimated to be surplus to requirements.
These boardroom dalliances are often seen as necessary evils when it comes to the rigours of office life, however, executives feel that 67% of meetings are completely unproductive. So what’s the point?
The point is a shared space where ideas can be shared and broken down. The boardroom is a sacred sanctum where ideas are catalysed and decisions are made. But if we’re to bring down that woeful 67% and ensure the meeting room is a source of productivity then certain criteria need to be met.
The room
The room itself is where we really need to begin. Of course, you might be limited by the rooms available, but if you can help it, you should at least ensure that the meeting room is a comfortable size and that the layout is conducive to frank and open discussion.
The acoustics are key as a room that is too large will often fall victim to echoing. Acoustic panels can rectify this issue cost-effectively and unobtrusively. In addition, the temperature and atmosphere of the meeting room should also be taken into consideration.
From an atmospheric perspective, replacing one side of the room with a flexible LED screen will allow you to control the vibe in the room and use the screen for boardroom purposes. You could even install a transparent LED screen instead of a window on one wall if you’re feeling ambitious. Lighting should also factor in here, and whilst natural light can be wonderful, it will also lead to screen glaring so that should always be taken into account
The furniture
The room might set the foundations, but it’s the furniture that really gives the room its identity. The chairs should obviously be the primary focus, as comfort is always conducive to more productive meetings.
Chairs should have a decent backrest and adjustable height and depth, but they should also be stable and secure. Meanwhile, the tables will be dictated by the size and shape of the room itself.
However, whatever shape they take, the table height should match the height of the chairs. They should also include the absolute minimum amount of necessary legs, for obvious reasons.
The display
Every good boardroom is centred around the main display where all of the main ‘action’ happens. Of course, bigger is not always better, as larger displays tend to lose resolution and can result in fuzzy and hard-to-understand text.
In the vast majority of situations, a direct view LED display is the best choice as front projection screens might be more affordable but they are much harder to see and can lead to washed-out colours and text. Spectra provide a range of LED screens that can be customised to just about any specification.
Of the possible devices offered by Spectra, flexible LED screens are particularly strong when it comes to contrast and depth of colour (not to mention durability), so this is certainly something to take into consideration when kitting out your meeting room.
The rest
The modern meeting room also needs to be able to facilitate modern practices such as video conferencing. The average meeting room will also be covered in cables, so wireless solutions are often appreciated and recommended wherever possible.
Spectra are proud to be the exclusive suppliers of the BOSE professional audio conferencing range, which represents one of the smartest, tidiest and most powerful complete conferencing solutions on the market.
Finally, ensure that there are plenty of power sockets available and that there is a reliable booking system in place that all employees are able to access. It’s these ‘little’ things that together can make the difference between a boardroom bristling with ideas and one that feels like a barren wasteland.
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