50+ Questions Great Managers Ask in Team Meetings
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If you want to create a lively yet productive meeting environment that everyone can't have enough of, engaging team meeting questions top the list of potent weapons you can add to your managerial arsenal.
Break the ice, keep the flow, maintain the momentum, and get genuine feedback — asking the right questions can bring those and more to your staff meetings.
We've gathered 50+ staff meeting questions that great managers use to set the mood and get the most out of their team meetings.
50+ great questions to ask at a staff meeting
Many different topics can be covered in a team meeting, depending on the purpose of the meeting and the needs of the team, including:
Icebreakers
Roadblocks
Feedback
Personal and team wins
Team well-being
Every team meeting usually covers one or more topics from the above. And you can fit questions into any aspect of your meeting if you know the how.
Below are the staff meeting questions real managers use to ignite productive conversations, overcome roadblocks, and put everyone on the same page during their staff meetings and beyond.
Questions to warm up the meeting (icebreaker)
Where did you and your family spend the weekend?
Do you have any pets? How long have you had them?
What superpower would you like to have and why?
What's your favorite hobby or activity outside of work?
What fashion brand do you love the most?
What do you have in mind for your next vacation?
What did you do for fun in the past that you haven't had as much time for lately?
What’s the one movie you’ve watched more than 5 times and still love to watch?
What's one thing you're looking forward to this week?
What's your favorite way to relax after work?
How do you feel your work/life balance is right now?
If you are to relocate to any country/city of your choice? Where will you go?
Questions to help celebrate the team
What challenges have we overcome as a team that is worth celebrating?
What’s the most significant thing we've done that has positively impacted the company/industry?
What are some of the things you're proud of that your team has accomplished this quarter/year?
Is there someone on the team who is worth a shout-out?
What words or phrases would you use to describe the team's culture and values?
What’s our most significant achievement ever as a team?
What positive feedback have you received from clients, stakeholders, or other colleagues about the team's work?
What’s your best memory as a member of this team?
What are some of the biggest projects and milestones we've hit as a team?
Questions to get feedback and solve issues
How can we improve our decision-making process as a team?
If you’d recommend one thing for better team performance in the next quarter, what would it be?
What can we do to better our team's problem-solving skills?
What is one thing we could experiment with doing differently this quarter?
How can we better align our team goals with the company's mission and vision?
What are some of the ways that we can foster creativity within our team?
On a scale of 1-10, rate the communication and collaboration within the team.
What’s one area you think this team is lacking? What can we do to improve?
Do we have a positive and supportive team culture?
What are the roadblocks you currently face in your work?
Read next: Meeting Feedback Survey Questions
Special questions for remote & hybrid teams
How do you feel about remote working? What are the most challenging aspects of working remotely?
What are some of the things you miss most about working in an office?
What helps you feel connected to other team members and escape the potential loneliness of working remotely?
How could we improve our remote team management?
How do you manage distractions when working at home?
What do you consider the biggest advantage of hybrid working?
How does remote/hybrid work impact your productivity and team playing?
How is your work-life balance right now? What would you like to change about it?
What do you think about the company’s remote/hybrid work policy? How could we improve?
Team-building questions
How do you feel as a member of this team?
What fun team-building activities can we do to bond and connect?
Does our team culture foster creativity and inspiration? What would you recommend?
What unique skills and strengths does each team member bring to the table? How can we leverage these to achieve our goals?
Are you uncomfortable with constructive criticism of otter team members?
Who on the team do you have the most difficulty working with? Who would you like to work more often with? And why
What do you think about the relationship between our team and other teams in the department?
Have you received help from anyone or helped other team members recently?
What are some of the ways that we can foster a culture of collaboration within our team?
Notta offers the most integrated AI meeting notes, summaries, and action items so nothing gets missed.
6 essential questions you should ask in every team meeting
Based on the team meeting topics above, here are six evergreen questions for every meeting:
1. As a team, what can we do better?
In today's rapidly changing business landscape, the ability to continuously improve and optimize processes is a key factor for success. Organizations with a culture of continuous improvement have higher levels of innovation and employee satisfaction.
By encouraging team members to share their thoughts and ideas for improvement, the team can tap into their collective wisdom and creativity, leading to more innovative solutions and better results.
Think of it like a tune-up for your team's performance. It's a chance to check in, fine-tune the gears, and ensure the team is always operating at its best. In short, reflecting on areas that can be improved or optimized keeps the team agile and adaptable.
2. What else can I do to better manage our team?
Managers who are proactive in seeking feedback have more engaged and motivated teams. A highly effective way to demonstrate your willingness to learn, grow, and set a positive tone for the team is questions like this.
It’s you gathering the knowledge and insights you need to lead your team to greatness. With each answer, you discover the keys to unlocking your team's full potential.
Asking for feedback and suggestions on how to better manage the team also fosters a sense of belonging, as it gives team members a voice and consequently boosts their drive for excellence. In a study, Gallup found that teams with managers who received strengths feedback showed 12.5% greater productivity than teams with managers who received no feedback.
3. What's our biggest roadblock as a team?
As a manager, you are most likely not aware of most of the challenges your team is facing. According to Sidney Yoshida’s Iceberg of Ignorance theory, “Only 4% of an organization’s front-line problems are known by top management, 9% are known by middle management, 74% by supervisors, and 100% by employees….”
The only way to know these challenges is to ask.
Overall, asking about obstacles and challenges can help create a more positive and productive work environment by improving communication, reducing stress, and increasing job satisfaction.
4. What resources would help our team achieve more success next week/month/quarter/year?
Talent and skill are important, but having the right resources can make all the difference in reaching team goals. This is where asking about resources comes into play. This question helps the team identify what they need to reach their goals and highlights areas where the organization can provide support.
It's like finding the missing piece of a puzzle or discovering a hidden treasure trove of tools to help the team shine. Research has shown that organizations that invest in the right resources, such as training and development programs, have higher employee retention and profitability.
By asking this question, your team will uncover the resources they need to surge ahead of the competition and bring far-reaching success to the organization.
5. What’s our greatest achievement since the last meeting?
This question helps keep track of progress and ensure accountability. Regularly celebrating achievements can boost morale and allow for more efficient use of team meeting time by focusing the discussion on what has been accomplished and what still needs to be done.
It's like a victory lap after each meeting, where team members share their personal and team triumphs, giving everyone a sense of purpose and belonging. Picture it - high-fives, cheers, and applause all around as everyone celebrates each other's successes. It’s a good reminder of the team's collective efforts and impact.
6. As a team, is there anything we should STOP doing?
Like looking in the mirror and being honest with ourselves, this powerful question is a tool for introspection. It's a chance to reassess habits, processes, or approaches that may no longer serve the team. Thus, making room for new and better ways of working.
Reevaluating team practices and processes opens the door to growth and a better game plan for success. Teams that regularly reviewed and modified their processes and practices experienced improved performance and efficiency.
How to encourage participation in a team meeting?
To ensure that these questions are most effective, creating a supportive and friendly meeting setting where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and concerns is important. Here are a few tips to help;
Use Check-ins to connect: Set the tone for the meeting by starting with quick check-ins. Make team members feel homey by showing concern about their well-being and personal life. This helps foster a sense of unity and encourages team members to jump into discussions with both feet.
Introduce some fun elements: Spruce up your meeting with interactive tools like surveys, brainstorming sessions, or small group discussions. They make meetings more engaging and provide an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Travel with a clear roadmap: Chart a defined course for your meeting by setting a clear agenda beforehand. This gives your team members a chance to prepare mentally and physically as they’d be able to gather ideas, reports, presentations, and other relevant documents to stay focused and on track.
Define and assign meeting roles: By assigning specific roles and responsibilities to team members such as timekeeper, facilitator, and note-taker, you avoid bench-warming and ensure everyone is actively engaged during the meeting. Rotate meeting roles regularly to ensure no one feels odd or left out.
Bring in the informal bits: Fortify your meetings with casual activities like games, trivia, or other team-building exercises. This helps keep the meeting atmosphere light and fun, encouraging team members to participate more actively.
Incentivize participation: Providing incentives for participation can encourage team members to get involved. It could be a simple shout-out, a prize for the best idea, or special recognition for active participation. Offering incentives imbibe a sense of competition and usher team members to be more proactive and creative in their problem-solving approach.
Run better team meetings
Asking the right questions in every meeting keeps the team aligned and on track. A manager can improve the team's overall performance and create a more positive and productive work environment by taking the time to reflect on progress, identify challenges, and align priorities.
We’ve saved you the time and headache of finding the right questions. Start your journey to effective team management.
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