Some find conducting business at a coffee shop a nice way to create a casual environment for a meeting. But if you’re looking for a more interesting twist on scenery, you could consider sailing the open seas on the newly introduced “sofa boat”.

Announced at the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show, the sofa boat was quite an attraction. Besides its retractable sun canopy and comfortable sofa seat, the boat has joystick steering and runs on electricity. A second version, called the “B2B”, also contains a refrigerator and laptop docking stations. Some claim this design is ”perfect for those extremely confidential business meetings out at sea.” Here’s a snapshot:

It’s hard to imagine actually conducting a meeting on this boat. Despite the wondrous views it surely brings, the limited space alone—with virtually no exit once in motion—would perhaps leave participants anxious, if not claustrophobic. So why entertain the space as an option?

As The Methodology Blog has covered before, people go to all lengths to jumpstart a meeting with positive, exciting energy. This tactical approach can prove to be a great way to inspire employees. Yet, no matter how upbeat the atmosphere, there’s more to a productive meeting than comfortable seating and an enthusiastic presenter.

Worthwhile meetings require forethought. As Slaughter Development discussed during a recent event in the ongoing 2010 Productivity Series, meetings must have a solid purpose to justify taking time away from their work. Routine workplace gatherings should be about one of two objectives: brainstorming or decision-making. Announcements should not be made aloud, but transmitted through passive modes of communication such as email or memos. Inevitably, it’s the content in the agenda that makes all the difference between successful meetings and wasteful ones.

To learn more about conducting useful, productive meetings that actually leave stakeholders optimistic and lead to progress, contact Slaughter Development today. We may not be able to provide ocean views, but we can certainly assist in refreshing your typical meetings.

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