Client on-sites are high-stakes. You’re often meeting a client face-to-face for the first time, and they’ve spent weeks coordinating schedules and inviting the right people. They’re counting on everything to go smoothly, and how the day unfolds reflects on both them and you as their agency partner.

But let’s be honest, onsite dynamics can be tough. People multitask through presentations, a few voices dominate discussions, and others stay silent. You leave wondering if there was real alignment or just polite nodding.

As an on-site leader and facilitator, it’s my job to ensure we represent our client well while guiding everyone through complex change-management topics. After one particular session where I could feel people disengaging during a design discussion, I knew something had to change. I needed a way for everyone to participate—something quick, visual, and even a little fun.

Insert the Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down Paddle!

I was nervous at first. Would it actually work? But when I passed the paddles around, I immediately saw smiles. When it came time to check alignment on a topic, I held up my paddle and said, “All right, everyone, thumbs up or thumbs down? If you’re unsure, give a thumbs down and we’ll talk it through.” 

And just like that, everyone was engaged. Here’s why it works: 

• Everyone participates and no one hides behind silence.
• It instantly shows the overall group sentiment. 
• It helps identify and discuss specific concerns quickly. 

If the group can’t reach agreement, we add the topic to the Parking Lot and continue later with more data or discussion. 

Simple, Shared Signal

The paddles have been a repeatable hit. I’ve had people tell me, “I’m going to start using this in our team meetings.” I even rolled it out at a conference I was recently presenting at. Everyone in attendance received a paddle and honestly, I think it was the icing to the presentation.

For remote teams, it’s just as easy. Use an online thumbs-up or thumbs-down feature or virtual emoji reaction to keep things interactive.

Try It in Your Next Meeting 

Here are a few ways to use this simple but effective technique:

• Weekly team discussions or project updates
• Reviewing new ad or campaign concepts
• Deciding which projects to prioritize next 

If you’re looking for a creative way to encourage engagement and ensure every voice is heard, grab a simple red/green or thumbs up/down paddle. It might just change the way your team communicates. 

At the heart of every great collaboration is participation. Whether in person or online, small tools that give everyone a voice can turn an ordinary meeting into a moment of shared insight and that’s where real progress begins.