Whether it’s for collaborating on a new project or hashing out scenarios for a troublesome task, meeting with coworkers and colleagues is a simple way to brainstorm and resolve problems. When you can get input from multiple stakeholders, business situations become each easier to solve.
Finding the right place to talk, though, can be tricky — people need to feel comfortable so that they’re open to talking. To help, we asked members of the Young Entrepreneur Council the following question:
Q. What is the best environment to meet with peers to share ideas and stress points?
1. Communal workspace
Whether you have an office or a group of mostly remote employees, you need a space where people can feel comfortable engaging in discussions and sharing ideas. If you are in a building, create social spaces with couches and other seating so people can sit comfortably and chat. If you are in a remote environment, set up a hub or chat where employees can easily interact. Wherever you are, these spaces should be seen as places where you can meet to talk business and to socialize. —Blair Thomas, eMerchantBroker
2. Working lunch
Going out for a business lunch with your peers is a great way to build your relationships and talk about business. Aside from the fact that it is a really fun “getting to know you” thing, it’s a great time for communicating and a good habit to build into the workday. —Nicole Munoz, Start Ranking Now
3. Cocktail hour
Having a cocktail or two in an informal setting often allows people to bring their whole selves to a discussion. The prerequisite to a fruitful conversation, in any environment, is that people feel safe and understand that their ideas are welcome. Alcohol isn’t a must-have as long as people can be themselves without organizational constraints or politics. The environment has to be authentic. —Robert J. Choi, RJC & Company Transformation Engineers
4. Virtual meeting
My team is 100% remote. Every Friday during the last hour of the day, we all grab our favorite beverages and begin to share ideas and highlights of the week. Virtual meetings are great because they give each member of the team a level of comfort and security to say what they want to say. Sharing ideas is often much easier and less intimidating in a virtual setting than in-person. —Mike A. Podesto, Find My Profession
5. An office
Sensitive topics deserve a little privacy. Your best bet is to call them into your office and discuss either stress points, or ideas that are important to you. I have found that meetings are rarely good places for freewheeling brainstorming, but if I gather a few people that I know work well together, I can get some creative solutions generated. —Zev Herman, Superior Lighting
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6. Early morning meals
Lately, I have found that a solid “power breakfast” with fellow founders is the best way to dig into the subjects that you might be too tired or too stressed to get into later in the day. Also, by scheduling time before setting foot inside the office, there are no outside distractions or lingering worries to get in the way of focusing on the conversation. Bonus if you can resist looking at your email until after your breakfast concludes! —Kim Kaupe, ZinePak
7. Traveling
I have always enjoyed meeting peers during business and leisure travels. I meet a few friends and associates multiple times a year where I can get away, and share ideas without any work distractions and without worrying that I have to go back to work the next day. This has proven to be very productive for me and my business. —Michael Hsu, DeepSky
8. Conferences
Industry conferences provide time and convenience to meet up. You most likely will be already attending these events, plus there is additional time during conferences for meetings and idea exchanges. —Peter Daisyme, Calendar
9. Anywhere
There is no place that a founder or entrepreneur travels where it is inappropriate to share ideas and stress points. The trick is making your audience feel comfortable with you wherever you are. It could be an airport lounge or a crowded subway, but there is never a bad place to start a discussion since you can never tell when the opportunity will happen again. —Ryan Bradley, Koester & Bradley, LLP
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