We previously discussed in a previous article the value of using a welcoming ritual at the beginning of a meeting to help participants refocus on the meeting’s objective, release emotions, or establish healthy communication practices.

In this article, I’ll share a few examples of rituals you can adapt depending on your setup (in-person or virtual), the number of participants, and the goal of the meeting.

The Internal Weather Check

In-person

Draw a sun, a storm cloud, and a sun partially covered by a cloud on sticky notes. Place them around the room. Ask participants to get up and stand next to the image that best represents their mood for the day—whatever the reason behind it (personal or professional). Give them the option to explain their choice or not.

Benefits:

Very simple to implement! Encourages movement at the start of the meeting, which can help reenergize participants, especially if they’ve been sitting all day.

Possible Adaptations:

• Change the question. For example: “Go to the image that best represents what you feel or think about the meeting topic.”
• In virtual meetings: Ask participants to choose an emoji or smiley that answers the question.
• Can be used at various points during the meeting to track changes in mood.
• Works even in a meeting with just two participants!

The Mood Tree

In-person or virtual

Find a version of a “mood tree” online that you like—there are plenty available. Make sure the characters are numbered, or add numbers yourself. At the beginning of the meeting, ask participants to choose (out loud or in the chat) the number of the character that best represents their current state of mind. Let them decide whether or not they want to explain their choice.

Benefits:

• Offers more nuance than the weather check, thanks to a wider range of choices.
• May help quickly identify issues to address during or outside the meeting.

Possible Adaptations:

• Change the question to fit your needs. For example: “Which character best represents your role in the team?”
• Can be used at multiple points in the meeting to observe changes.
• Participants can choose more than one character (I usually limit to 3).
• Works in meetings with just two participants!

Funny Photos

In-person or virtual

The structure is similar to the previous two rituals. Choose a collage from the internet (or make your own!) with an unexpected theme. There are dozens available: sheep, llamas, pandas… I’ve personally created ones using snowmen, M&Ms, or butterflies. Usually, you’ll have 6 to 10 photos showing various, often silly, scenarios. As with the other rituals, ask participants to choose their favorite.

Benefits:

• Brings a light, fun moment to kick off the meeting. Seeing a sheep with its head in a bucket or a panda napping always gets a smile 😊
• Creates a playful contrast that helps people tap into something different.

Possible Adaptations:

• Change the question to suit your needs. For example: “Which image best represents your view on today’s topic?”
• Can be reused during the meeting to track evolving perspectives.
• Participants can choose more than one image (I usually limit to 2).
• Works well even in small meetings with just two people!

In Summary

There are countless welcome rituals to choose from. I’ve shared here the three I use most often, along with ideas for adapting them. Because that’s the key: you must adapt the ritual to your context and participants! And don’t forget to join in yourself—it sets an example and reminds everyone that you’re part of the meeting too, and just as important 😊