The Quest #217: 😩 Are you stuck in the ‘Boring Meeting Trap’?

👀 Quick thing before we dive in:​
I’m looking for 8 people to beta test a new self-assessment quiz I’ll be launching very soon. It’ll help you spot your strengths and growth areas when it comes to leading live online sessions—and you’ll get a personalized report right away.

All I need:
🕐 10–15 minutes to fill in the quiz
📝 Your honest feedback

Want in? Just hit reply—I’ll send it to the first 8 people who respond.

OK, now let’s get into today’s topic…

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Stuck in boring meeting mode? You’re not alone.

Last week, a new subscriber wrote to me:

“Meetings and online sessions are what my team members usually… dislike, to say it politely. But that’s because most of us have never been trained on how to do it effectively. So they end up being a waste of time.”

Oof. That hits hard. And she’s not wrong.

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📊 Slido found that nearly half of online meeting attendees leave without saying a single word.

That’s a ton of lost insight—not because people don’t care. It’s because they are stuck in a pattern.

I call it the “Boring Meeting Trap”

It sounds like this:

• Same people talking
• Same glazed over faces
• Agenda that never changes
• No one really knows why they’re there

Result? People tune out. Multitask. And start dreading meetings altogether.

Especially in remote teams, this drains people’s energy. And it leads to low morale and missed momentum.

The worst thing? The Boring Meeting has become our default meeting experience. 😩

It may seem impossible to escape.

If you’re leading sessions like this, it’s not because you’re doing it wrong.
It’s because most of us were never shown a better way.

I’m guessing you know that something isn’t working. But it feels impossible to shift that boring meeting dynamic once it sets in.

Here’s the Good News

You can break the pattern.

And you don’t need a full-on meeting makeover. Nuh-uh.
Just a few key moves can make a big difference.

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The 3 truths about online meetings

The first step to breaking the pattern is to accept these 3 fundamental truths about online meetings:

1️⃣ Live time is sacred​
Don’t waste it on updates that could’ve been shared in advance.

💡Use your session for connection, discussion, collaboration, and decision-making.

(BTW I find that Loom is a great tool for sharing presentations and updates in advance.)

2️⃣ People don’t owe you their attention​
Yes, they may be required to attend—but that’s not the same as being engaged and motivated to contribute.

💡You need to earn their attention with a clear goal and a spark of the unexpected. A fresh format. An intriguing question. A moment of real connection.

3️⃣ The default is boring. ​
Most meetings fall into passive, presentation mode.
If you don’t intentionally make it interactive, people will tune out.

💡As my friend and StreamAlive Co-founder Lux Narayan says you have to unmute the audience. Use prompts, polls, or breakouts to spark energy and input.

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🙋‍♀️ 3 opening prompts that actually get people talking

Wondering where to start? Try one of these prompts to kick things off differently:

• “What’s one thing that would make this meeting worthwhile for you today?”
• “What’s one question you’re bringing into this meeting?”
• “What’s one win from last week you’d love to share?”

These signal: this isn’t just another sit-and-get session.

And it gives you valuable input you can weave into the meeting to make it relevant.

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How to get the naysayers on board​
Got folks who are skeptical? Address their concerns outright.

Here’s what I say:

“A few people have shared that our meetings don’t always feel valuable. I appreciate that feedback. Your time is important—and I want us to make the most of our meeting time together. So today I’m trying a few new things. I’d love your honest feedback after.”

Simple. Human. And it invites them in.

Because when it comes down to it when people feel like their voice matters, they’re more likely to stay engaged.
​

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Putting it into action 💪

Next time you lead a meeting, try this:

1. Give a heads-up: share a question or prompt beforehand.
2. Open with something unexpected: a meaningful check-in or quick reflection.
3. Keep your talking brief. Make space for voices.
4. End with one takeaway or action—and ask what they found valuable.

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Over to you 🎤

👉 What’s one small tweak you could make to your next meeting to escape the boring meeting trap?

Hit reply and let me know—I’d love to hear what resonates!

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💌 Thanks for reading The Quest

I always love hearing your feedback and suggestions. Just hit reply to share your thoughts and ideas.

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Creatively yours,

Whenever you are ready there are 2 more ways I can help you:

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