Why do we sit at meetings? The Benefits of Standing Meetings.

A common problem in Britain is too much sitting, especially in an office environment. But research has shown that a simple change in office furniture and the way we conduct meetings can enhance the performance of employees in the office environment.

Stand-up meetings are becoming more popular in offices as people realise the benefits to this practice. This type of meeting involves standing discussions held together, usually around a high table. But the benefits of such a session make the growing prevalence understandable.

Shorter Meetings:

Do your meetings tend to last hours long, even when there is only one or two points that need to be discussed? Some meetings can seem to last an age but result in very little improvements, as well as discouraging or tiring the participants and decreasing momentum during working hours.

However, stand-up meetings are a remarkable technique for keeping meetings brief and succinct. According to studies, standing meetings are on average 34% shorter than sit-down ones. This adds up to a lot of man hours saved when large teams need to collaborate, making efficient use of your time. When you are sat comfortably, it is much easier to waste time with drifting conversation rather than staying on topic. So, if you’re in need of a way to make your meetings concise, getting up on your feet might be the best approach.

Boosts Productivity:

One of the main reasons for assembling a group meeting is to promote participation and to compile new ideas for business matters. Hence, it is very important to make employees feel at ease whilst interacting in a group setting.

Stand-up meetings encourage engagement and have proven to be more collaborative than when sat down. During a recent study, participants were split in to two groups and asked to work on a project, one group in a room with chairs and one without. The outcome demonstrated that team members who stand whilst working together tend to be more enthusiastic and contribute more often in comparison to being sat down. This means that thoughts are going to be promoted and shared more often resulting in a higher yield of fresh ideas that can effectively advance a growing company.

Not only are groups going to be more productive, but standing has also been known to improve energy levels and concentration. The same study also determined, through the use of wristband sensors worn by the volunteers, that the standing participants were physiologically more eager about the subject than the opposing group. This highlights the benefits of successful engagement during a meeting and thus its positive effect for a business corporation.

Health Benefits:

Not only is standing beneficial mentally, it is also beneficial physically. Humans are not built for sitting for long periods of time and hence many find it difficult or even painful to be sat at a desk all day. Sitting for too long has been known to cause musculoskeletal problems and an increase in stress levels, not to mention the problems of posture. Bad posture inevitably due to remaining seated all day has led to back pain being one of the most common health problems caused by working in an office environment. Therefore, breaking up your routine a bit with standing sessions can significantly improve your health and relieve back, neck and shoulder pains.

Along with this, spending too much of your working day sitting down increases your chances of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and weight gain. Nevertheless, standing opposed to sitting burns more calories. It has been estimated that standing for an extra 1hr a day over the course of a year can burn up to 10,000 calories. Hence, spending a little extra time standing can lower the risk of many health issues resulting in healthier and happier employees.

Top tips for conducting a Stand-up Meeting:

Now that the benefits for stand-up meetings have been laid before you, it’s best to find out the right way to incorporate them for the most advantageous result. So, to help you out, we’ve collected some top tips for effectively managing a stand-up meeting.

Keep it short:

Spending hours in a stand-up meeting defeats the point of being quick and to the point. If you drag out your meeting you’ve lost the whole benefit of having uplifting meetings that promote work productivity. Instead, it is best to bear in mind the attention span of your listeners, especially if the meeting is mainly aimed to inform others about recent updates or approaching events. Don’t let yourself become a lecture. Rather, keep your talks concise and easy to listen to. This will benefit both your impact on the audience and their ability to remember and take in what you’ve told them. It is best to aim for approximately 20-30 minute meetings as you don’t want minds to wander whilst you get to the most important point.

Keep moving:

There’s not going to be nay major effect if you decide to stand still for half an hour instead of sitting still for half an hour. The problem that some have with stand-up meeting is cramps and fatigue from standing stock still for too long. Make some sort of movement. This is the best way to improve circulation and reap the benefits of this revolutionary change to your workplace. Even the smallest movement can help – moving your feet, walking around a bit or just swapping who’s writing on the whiteboard. Encourage movement too. Don’t be a statue.

Conversation not copying:

What is the point of utilizing a technique that encourages creativity if the meeting only includes reading from a sheet of paper or a PowerPoint presentation? Don’t waste the potential of a stand-up meeting. Take the opportunity to promote discussion and listen to everyone’s ideas. Incorporate active questions and develop an open space that people can speak in comfortably with a positive atmosphere. This will help your team feel engaged and valuable. When people are comfortable, they are able to concentrate better, consequently increasing productivity.

As you have seen, stand-up meeting are effective for many reasons. Our aim is to promote such a beneficial tool by making standing meeting equipment accessible and affordable to as many as possible in the UK. Why not take a look at our range of height adjustable meeting tables to familiarize yourself with what is available. All of our range include free UK delivery and a full 5 year guarantee for peace of mind.