--- title: "Friday Buzz: Reignite Innovation During Business Meetings" id: "22829" type: "post" slug: "friday-buzz-reignite-innovation-during-business-meetings" published_at: "2014-04-25T16:39:34+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T18:23:42+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/04/25/friday-buzz-reignite-innovation-during-business-meetings/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/04/25/friday-buzz-reignite-innovation-during-business-meetings.md" excerpt: "If your office meetings have turned into a snoozefest, here’s how to bring the creativity back. Also: A celebrity event planner offers her trendsetting, customer-focused tricks of the trade." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "event planning" - "Leadership" - "Meetings" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "C-Level" - "Director" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Friday Buzz: Reignite Innovation During Business Meetings The days of mind-numbing, never-ending, unproductive meetings are over. *Fast Company* contributor [Sam Harrison says (opens in a new tab)](http://www.fastcompany.com/3029343/work-smart/5-tips-for-fast-and-focused-meetings) stuffing a legion of unenthusiastic employees into a room while attempting to squeeze every ounce of inventiveness out of them is completely counterproductive. Instead, he suggests keeping discussion groups to a small number of participants, appropriately allocating the amount of time spent during the session, and ensuring all contributors have a thorough understanding of the topic at hand, among other tips. “Another time-saving tactic is to get folks on their feet. When meetings I facilitate start droning on, I’ll often call for a 10-minute break—just long enough to haul away all chairs. Creative energy goes up and soliloquies go down when everybody stands throughout a meeting.” ### Dream Within the Realms of Reality > 8 Rules for Events from Celebrity Wedding Planner Sharon Sacks ([@sacksprods (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/sacksprods?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > ) [http://t.co/WKbQlQV8p9 (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/WKbQlQV8p9) > [#eventprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#eventplanning (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventplanning?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — BizBash (@BizBash) [April 24, 2014 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/BizBash/status/459346998974767104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **“Every event is a moving work of art,”** celebrity event planner [Sharon Sacks told BizBash (opens in a new tab)](http://www.bizbash.com/celebrity-wedding-planner-sharon-sackss-8-rules-for-events/new-york/story/28209?#.U1krMa1dWhA) . As president of Sacks Productions for the past 25 years, she knows a thing or two about bringing imaginative visions into fruition to create an unforgettable experience. In addition to sharing her secrets to event success, she explains why she never says “no” to her clients: “If a client wants something that may not be possible due to venue restrictions or budget restraints, instead of saying ‘no,’ offer them another idea, or a solution that will please them just as much.” *(ht [@BizBash (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/BizBash) )* ### Other Good Reads **Content marketing strategist [Jenise Fryatt says (opens in a new tab)](http://blog.cvent.com/blog/jenise-fryatt-bio/5-more-tips-for-attracting-your-niche-audience-on-social-media)** your association’s “content is the bait,” and social media can help can reel in niche audiences. **From leaving guests to their own devices** to sending nonstop emails to your team, *Event Manager Blog* editor [Julius Solaris lists (opens in a new tab)](http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/bad-event-planning-habits) several event planning no-nos to avoid. **Recruiting your office rock stars was just the first step.** On *Inc.com*, Storm Ventures managing partner [Jason Lemkin explains (opens in a new tab)](http://www.inc.com/jason-lemkin/how-to-retain-star-employees.html) what he’s learned about his struggle to retain them. ***Smooth the Path***‘s Amanda Kaiser [advises associations (opens in a new tab)](http://www.smooththepath.net/2014/04/22/question-frames-answer/) to think more strategically and focus externally when combating issues with their broken business models. (iStock/Thinkstock) [Alexis Williams](https://associationsnow.com/author/alexis-williams/) Alexis Williams & Alexis Davis are contributors to Associations Now. 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