Life In The Boardroom: 7 Ways To Improve Your Meetings

If you're looking to improve your boardroom meetings, today's post is for you! Here we'll highlight 7 awesome ways to take functionality, comfort, and performance to the next level. From integrating a powered table into your space, to utilizing folding presentation boards, the tips and concepts showcased here will make your boardroom the best it can be. Enjoy!

1.) Use A Powered Table

The best way to improve your boardroom in 2015 is with a powered table. The powered conference and boardroom table solutions available from brands like Global Total Office, Mayline, and Cherryman Industries help streamline the meeting process while simultaneously boosting functionality. Top powered tables feature USB, HDMI, Audio, Phone, and AC inputs at surface level. This means, no more running extension cords across your room to utilize laptops and devices. Powered tables were once considered high end, but as the furniture industry has grown, these helpful units have become the standard. Don't be left in dust by the competition. Add a powered table to your space today. You'll be glad you did. Excellent powered conference tables like the MNC8 8' Medina model from Mayline are now available for well under a thousand bucks. If you're taking on a boardroom makeover project, give the MNC8 serious consideration!

2.) Provide Plenty of Elbow Room

Don't overcrowd your boardroom table with bulky chairs! While it sounds simple, businesses often purchase overly large chairs that make meetings uncomfortable. This year, slimline chairs like the Joplin from Woodstock Marketing and the Curva from Cherryman Industries are the way to go. These sleek conference room seating solutions will provide your meeting guests with the space they needs to function effectively and comfortably during boardroom sessions. Wondering how many chairs will fit around your table without overcrowding it? We've got you covered! You'll want to provide about 3' of table space per guest. That being said, a 12' conference room table will comfortably accommodate 4 users per side. Additional chairs can be added at table ends if needed.

3.) Mount A Flat Screen

The best boardrooms are now using flat screens to improve the meeting process. Mounting a flat screen TV on a perimeter wall will enhance appeal and kick boardroom performance into high gear. With a powered table, you'll be able to link up to your TV with ease and host power point presentations much more professionally. No more drop down projector screens! While a big screen TV will certainly raise the cost of your boardroom makeover project, it's definitely a worth while investment.

4.) Make Room For Storage

All too often, businesses take on boardroom makeover projects and forget to incorporate the storage components needed to complete their space effectively. Adding a single wall cabinet in your space is a must! Many of today's top conference room furniture collections include stylish storage options to match tables and create a cohesive look that's sure to earn your interior the compliments it deserves. A storage cabinet will allow you to neatly organize presentation materials, stationary, and more. Don't forget the storage when tackling your boardroom makeover.

5.) Tablet Arm Seating

You may not have the space to accommodate as many chairs as you'd like around your boardroom table. When it's time to host a large meeting, tablet arm chairs placed around the perimeter of your room will really come in handy. As one of the hottest furniture trends of 2015, tablet arm chairs are incredibly versatile and user friendly. These popular seating solutions will allow additional boardroom guests to participate during meetings and take notes effectively. Brands like Mayline and Global Total Office offer some of the absolute best tablet arm seating solutions on the market.

6.) Bring In A Hospitality Cart

The best meeting hosts provide snacks and drinks for guests. In most professional settings it's actually expected. Don't let your guests down by jumping right into a lengthy presentation without a glass of water or cookie! While it sounds simple, a little hospitality goes a long way. Providing guests with food and drinks will have them more receptive to the info your delivering, thus improving the meeting process. Hospitality carts can also be used at corporate events and in group training room sessions. This makes them a great investment for any business.

7.) Use A Presentation Board

Presentation boards really come in handy during meetings. If you're coming up with ideas, the dry erase surface will allow you to write them down quickly and easily. Lots of us are visual learners that will greatly appreciate graphs and charts shown on presentation boards for reference. All to often, businesses have presentation boards in their spaces and never use them. Don't fall into this category. Make sure to use your presentation board as often as possible. The information being delivered will be better retained and your meeting process will be greatly improved.

Office Trends 2014: High Powered Work Environments

Considering an office makeover? We've got you covered! Here at our furniture blog we love to highlight the latest trends and products to help our readers create out of this world work spaces designed for professional business. That being said, in 2014 it's all about power! Top manufacturers like Global Total Office, Mayline, and Cherryman Industries are all offering high tech furniture solutions available with versatile power modules that are sure to help you take your space to the next level. Adding power modules to your office areas will improve your efficiency, boost productivity, and put you a step ahead of the competition. Needless to say, this trend is here to stay.

Powerful Training Rooms:

Creating a high powered training room space for your up and comers is just plain smart! Brands like Mayline have introduced a variety of awesome table collections designed for multi media applications. Both stand alone tables and daisy chain style linking systems are available to meet your specific needs. The factory installed power ports will have you up and running in no time. Basic training room table power modules feature (2) three prong outlets and (2) phone inputs. Customized setups are available at an up charge and can include HDMI, RJ45, USB inputs. We recommend the versatile tables from the Mayline Sync Series as they feature mobile bases and flip tops that save a ton of space when not in use.

Powerful Conference Rooms:

This year you'll see a variety of powered conference tables introduced by industry leading brands. However, we think the Zira series tables stand a cut above the competition. These cutting edge products are surprisingly affordable and come in a variety of sizes starting at 8' in length. Popular table styles include racetrack, oval, and boat shaped models available in over 15 unique finish options. The long list of customizable power options available on the Zira table line is what takes this collection over the top. No matter your multi media meeting area needs, Zira has you covered. Global Total Office has really outdone themselves with their latest addition.

Powerful Desks:

You'll be at no shortage of power ready desking options in 2014! Brands like Mayline and Global have introduced innovative open desking collections ready to kick those old cubicles to the curb. Imagine the ability to quickly plug your devices directly into your desk surface without the need for those dreadful trips underneath your station in search of an available outlet. Powered workstations are taking the office world by storm. Industry professionals and interior design teams are recommending these helpful options regularly to keep their clients on the cutting edge. Collections like the Global Total Office Bridges II and Mayline e5 series are a great way to educate yourself on this growing movement.

Conference Table Trends You'll Love

The conference room, boardroom, and office meeting area is used on a daily basis by most all professional businesses. This essential area must promote the style of business you wish to conduct while improving efficiency and saving valuable time. For 2013, more innovative trends have arrived to meet the needs of growing businesses than any other office area. From high tech tables to innovative modular designs, the conference table trends and product suggestions highlighted in this new article will have your office ready to work effectively!

In 2013 powered conference tables are selling like hot cakes. The ability to connect computers, projectors, phone, data, and other devices directly through a worksurface is luxury desired by nearly everyone making over their conference area. This high tech solution provides a variety of time saving benefits sure to keep your next meeting on track. Powered solutions like the Mayline Transaction Table line boast modern style and are available in a variety of sizes and finish options. These high end conference tables can be customized to meet the electronic demands of any growing business. Standard tables, and traditional wood tables for a boardroom are even being retrofitted to make for power readiness and improve productivity. Look for this trend to become the standard for every conference room throughout the country.

When it comes to office tables, one of the most evident trends for 2013 is the use of metal legs. This table style promotes an industrial feel that speaks volumes to commercial consumers. Common finishes include chrome, tungsten, and even black. In many cases, these modern conference tables can actually save your company money. Metal legs can be more affordable to manufacturer than laminate or wood veneer solutions, hold up extremely well, and use less materials thus reducing purchasing costs. The Alba conference table with metal legs can be purchased for as low as $458.99 for smaller spaces, but are still offered in versions up to 30' for large boardroom needs.

Another material trending in the world of contemporary conference room tables is glass. This neutral yet modern look provides a commercial appeal that goes will with rooms of any style. Tempered glass will essential match any new or current boardroom decor while providing your space with one heck of a conversation piece! By now you're probably thinking tables of this nature must cost a fortune, and in several instances you'd be right. But not all! Tables like the GT3977 OFM Table are available for as low as $1021.99, seat 6 individuals comfortably, and combine the metal leg trend mentioned above. To make a long story short, you simply cannot go wrong with this incredible product.

The ability to maximize office square footage through the use of modular products is an absolute must when possible. The modular office furniture movement is sweeping the nation, and for good reason! Space saving capabilities, mobilization, and cost effectiveness are all essential for growing businesses. Perhaps no area of a company can benefit more from the use of modular products than the conference room. New modular conference tables allow businesses to create multi use spaces in order to take advantage of the most workplace potential possible. Quickly convert your boardroom to a modern training room furniture configuration in minutes with product like Global Junction Tables with fixed or shared leg designs. While the the use of modular office tables is trendy, it's also downright smart. Using products of this nature showcases your office ingenuity while simultaneously saving you money, space, and time. With business office furniture solutions like this on the market for today's businesses, it'll be no time before you're office is considering an investment in new conference furniture for your space.