Evaluate whether the meeting room suits your purpose. Natural light is a plus, psychologically speaking, unless the view is distracting. And it’s up to the meeting leader to create psychological boundaries around the room, informing participants if phones, laptops and texting are off-limits.
Once you’ve decided to go offsite, use that to your advantage. Expectancy theory says that expectations create motivation. Billie Blair, Ph.D., president and CEO of Change Strategists in Los Angeles, suggests that an offsite meeting sends a message to participants that the meeting is important. This expectation motivates employees to take the gathering seriously and to perform at a higher level.