Author: Jeff Hurt


Seismic Conference And Attendance Shift Predictions Part 2

Change is no longer an event that happens once in a blue moon. It is the pace of today’s business. It is the drumbeat of the 21st Century. The change that we currently see around us might one day be viewed as similar to what happened after the invention of the printing press or the … [Read more…]

15 Predictions About Future Conferences And Shifting Attendance Part 1

Every conference experiences change. Well, at least is should experience some change. Especially if it’s a healthy and growing conference. Yet some conference organizers—those that keep their finger on the intersection of society, their profession and their customers’ industry—sense that they are in the midst of radical change. It’s the kind that only happens every … [Read more…]

Treating Attendees As Human Beings Not Machines

Creating a conference culture of connection is a robust competitive advantage. One of the most powerful and often misunderstood aspects of successful conferences is authentically connecting with others. Too often our conference networking experiences disintegrate into ego driven, self-promotional, self-exploiting opportunities. It is irrational not to intentionally create conference experiences that nurture and promote authentic … [Read more…]

Converting Three Hugely Popular Complaints About Changing Conference Education

Some conferences have begun to make the transition from passive listening experiences to active participatory education sessions. Participatory conference education is moving from a buzzword to a normal practice. And ultimately, attendees benefit greatly from the change. Some conference organizers have discovered that this transition requires more work than the traditional model of sit-‘n-get lectures … [Read more…]

Leading Others Through Organization Change Requires Effective Brain-Friendly Plans

Yes, when dealing with change, the details of the change are important. Equally important are the plans we develop to bring others along with the change. We often omit creating a plan that our team can own. We make a barbaric blunder and create a plan about the details of the change. We forget about … [Read more…]

Breaking Through The Guardians Of Change By Addressing The A In ACE

How can you unlock the grip of failure on your organization? “What?” you ask. “My organization is not operating at a loss or failing.” Oh, I beg to differ. If your organization strives to achieve status quo, a failure mentality has taken hold. Fear of failure and fear of change are probably your organization’s biggest … [Read more…]

Brain-Savvy Leaders Foster ACE

In order to grow, your organization must change. Organizations that refuse to move become stagnate. They become trapped, treading water through a set of regular routines while getting nowhere. Without lasting change, organizations become dull, sluggish and deteriorate. They eventually die, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly. Unfortunately, the majority of organizational change fails, misses the mark … [Read more…]

Misguided And Misinformed Conference Barometers

Many of us who plan conferences have become so busy at the logistics of the event that we lose sight of the goal. When planning an event, we immediately go into automatic overdrive. We do the same things we’ve always done because it’s efficient and familiar to us. The over arching goals of the conference—providing … [Read more…]

Human Centered Design Will Impact Your Conference Experience [Infographic]

Take a look at some of the research and predictions from Hyper Island on how Experience Design is more critical to businesses than price. Applying this research to the business of conferences, paid attendee experience will soon become the unique selling point of conference over price and product. Are you even thinking about designing a … [Read more…]

The Greatest Conference Story Never Told

It’s time to bring back the luncheon table at your next conference. When attendees break bread together at the table, community is born. It’s where the stories of our profession, our lives, our past and our future are shared, retold, relived and remembered. Too many conferences have made a catastrophic mistake. In the name of … [Read more…]