Revitalize motivation during downtime: 3 high-impact micro-meetings
Even the strongest teams experience slow periods—moments when momentum wanes and routine takes over. Yet sometimes, all it takes is a well-orchestrated trigger to reignite enthusiasm, refocus priorities, and rediscover the joy of collaboration.
To maximize everyone’s engagement in this context, opt for brief activities or meetings paired with a meal break. Be sure to create an inspiring and motivating exchange that links daily tasks to the purpose behind these gatherings:
- Daily tasks
- Clear objectives
- Shared values
- Quick, actionable solutions
Micro-events: small formats, big effects
Before planning anything, start with one question: “Why?” Why bring your team together, why now, and most importantly, what do you want them to gain? Whether your goal is motivation, well-being, a sense of belonging, or a drive to innovate—these intentions will guide your format.
Favor short, stimulating meetings that encourage thinking outside the box while delivering concrete results. Here are three ideas to try this week.
1. Reversed Lunch & Learn
Duration: 45 minutes – Lunch box delivered on-site
In this format, roles are reversed. Team members share their ideas, and managers listen. Each participant raises an issue to improve and suggests a first solution.
All this happens in a friendly atmosphere, over a lunch box filled with gourmet salads, fine cheeses, refined sandwiches, pastries, and fresh fruit.
Success keys:
Present a simple template: “problem, solution, impact.”
Vote for one priority idea to prototype quickly.
Assign a lead and plan a follow-up within 10 days.
2. Micro-hackathon
Duration: 90 minutes – Dessert tray to finish
Want to energize your internal processes while gathering your team’s top strengths? Organize a mini hackathon around a tangible issue. Think about improving a tool, simplifying a task, or rethinking a method.
Fun fact: This method helped inspire Facebook’s “like” button.
Quick rundown:
15 min: introduction to the challenge and team formation.
45 min: creative sprint (Kanban boards, sticky notes, diagrams).
20 min: presentation of solutions, vote for the most promising project.
Finish it off with a sweet treat—dessert tray delivered to the meeting room. A small pleasure that rewards effort and reinforces team spirit.
Full process:
If the hackathon really inspires you, you can create a series of short meetings to maximize its real impact. For a more complex project, base it on these fundamentals:
Set a crystal-clear framework right from the start
During the kickoff meeting, lay out: precise objectives, team sizes, and expected deliverables. It’s time to “say exactly what you want to achieve.”
Establish simple yet comprehensive rules
Prepare a summary of rules and participation guidelines. Mention prizes, if any, to encourage healthy competition (day off, free meal, gift card, or other).
Identify mentors and judges
Who will be the mentors and evaluators? How will they intervene? Show quality support and engagement.
Structure the event journey
Kickoff (briefing, team formation)
Production sprint (checkpoints with mentors)
Final presentation session and jury deliberation
Define transparent evaluation criteria
Innovation, feasibility, strategic alignment, and potential impact—it’s up to you. Be sure to communicate the weighting for determining the winning team.
3. Walking Solution Session
Duration: 20 min walk + 10 min prioritization
Departure and return at Pavillon Soprano—non-traditional meal format for a surprise.
Sometimes, a change of scenery is all it takes to shift perspective. Offer a creative walk in pairs through the gardens of Pavillon Soprano.
Each duo chooses a specific challenge (e.g., improving client response times), discusses freely, and records ideas on their phones.
Back in the meeting room:
Gather all suggestions during the meal break
Mix up the pairs for a second walk to vote on the most promising solution.
Back at the office:
Compile the information, prioritize projects
Assign leads and teams, then move into action.
Short-term impact, long-term results
These micro-events don’t require a massive budget. What they do demand is clear intent, flexible structure, and sincere attention to team motivation.
Moreover, in every case, make it a priority to follow up after these short meetings. The main trap to avoid is letting the momentum fade without taking action.
Ready to create this turning point in a slow period? Tell us your objectives. Our team will suggest the ideal format, delivered with care or hosted in an inspiring setting, just steps from your day-to-day.
