Audiovisual
First impressions are everything. A good first impression can secure you a job or second date, whereas a bad first impression will end with the awkward deflection, “It’s not you, it’s me.” And when it comes to a business’s first impression, having a functional, eye-catching boardroom is key; if a company has an ugly, poorly functioning boardroom, you’re going to wonder what that means about that company. Do they not care about productivity, efficiency, and quality? And if you sign on with them, should you expect that same (low) standard of care?
A boardroom is an investment. It shows clients that your company has the resources to afford one and that you need that space to hold meetings and presentations. But if your layout’s poorly designed or your equipment doesn’t function, your meetings and presentations will suffer, as will the impression you leave on clients.
Here are 3 things to consider when optimizing your boardroom space and AV (to make the best impression possible!):
The Boardroom Space
Ideally, a boardroom should fit between 12 and 18 people. Anything more than that makes it difficult to be heard by other participants and is less collaborative. Of course, this doesn’t mean that the seats should be cramped together around a single, tiny screen. Rather, the boardroom should be able to comfortably fit all attendees while providing equal access to AV equipment.
Bigger boardrooms have more complex audiovisual components—for this reason, you’ll want to make sure your space is optimized for the amount and type of AV you need. Do you have enough connection points and outlets? Can everyone be clearly seen by the camera or picked-up by the microphones? An AV engineer can help you figure out these specifications, ensuring that your boardroom has easy accessibility, and fully operational technology that is built to aid meetings, not impede them.
Modern, Customizable Audiovisual Components
While workable AV is an integral first step, modern, customizable AV is just as important. Audiovisual needs vary from company to company, and different industries have very different requirements. For instance, if your company regularly uses videoconferencing, you might benefit from SpeakerTrack; this tech allows your camera to focus on individual speakers, zooming in and out as the speakers switch.
Lighting, sound, and visuals are all important components to consider. Can everyone hear equally well from different seats? Are the displays sized appropriately so that everyone can read the screen? Most importantly, is the room’s equipment easy to use, up-to-date, and able to increase productivity? In a good boardroom, the answer is yes. In a poorly functioning one, it’s two thumbs down.
One Touch Control
An exceptional benefit to having a boardroom is one touch control. From blinds to lights and temperature, a single remote is all you need. Think of this single remote as SSO for all your equipment; instead of having to find each button and figure out which switch works what, you can fully setup your room with one button, or better yet, have your room connect to your meeting automatically. If your boardroom lacks these features, you’re going to spend precious time trying to setup your room for the meeting. This may not sound like a huge time-waste, but AV and meeting issues quickly add up, leading to a substantial decrease in productivity.
A well-designed boardroom ensures efficiency and a good first impression (as well as a second, and third, etc.). Making the right impression is important, as it tells clients, partners, and employees what to expect from you and your company. In order to make the right impression, not the wrong one, update your AV technology and optimize your space, thus ensuring that your boardroom adequately reflects who you are and what your company has to offer.
