Author: Jeff Hurt


Your Conference Messaging Needs To Change Dramatically If You Want To Engage The Most Engaged

People who have the @Work State of Mind are exposed to a fire hose of constant communication. This communication comes from a variety of sources including customers, supervisors, suppliers, co-workers, family members, friends, professional colleagues and social networks. Their @Work State of Mind offers a wonderful opportunity to engage them in considering your conference messaging. … [Read more…]

Reaching Decisions Makers With Conference Communication Has Changed

If you’re trying to reach decision makers—those attendees that matter most to your conference success—you need to understand that nine to five thinking is dead. These senior level executives have adopted a philosophy that work is no longer a place; it is a state of mind says the Forbes 2012 gyro report “The @Work State … [Read more…]

How To Be An Invisible, Successful Rock Star Panel Moderator

Good panel moderators wear camouflage. We’ll not really. But they blend in so much with our panel experience that we often don’t even notice them. Why? Successful moderators keep the panel focused on attendees and their problems, not the panelists. They drive the panel discussion towards solutions that meets the audiences’ needs. Five Moderator Rules … [Read more…]

How To Create A Bodacious, Mind-boggling, Unforgettable Conference Experience

Now, more than ever, conference organizers can’t continue to play it safe! Your annual conference is part of your organization’s brand experience. Most conference hosts and organizers understand the power of experience to inspire people and drive business growth. Yet few take the time to consider, plan and design an amazing conference experience. They just … [Read more…]

Five Ways To Combine Conference Lectures With More Effective Education

In principle, there are many education methods that could replace conference lectures. The research is loud and clear that the majority of these education methods are more effective than the conference lecture. Yet, the conference lecture dominates the most conference education. Yes, the lecture has a place. Unfortunately, conference organizers give it too much prominence. … [Read more…]

Want To Know Why Your Conference Fails At Changing Behavior?

The traditional lecture, the primary education method of your conference, fails at promoting learning! Yes, it’s true. The conference lecture is only good for transmitting information. (Bligh 1970, 2000). It is not good for changing attitudes, behaviors or skills. (Bligh 1970, 2000) The Lecture Is Good For Teachers Bad For Learners As long as your … [Read more…]

Eight Web Verbs Associations And #Eventprofs Should Adopt

This post revisits one that was originally published in 2011 and has been updated it with two additional web verbs to adopt. In the next 20 years, eight dramatic technology trends will influence our connected world. We are already watching how these forces are shaping modern web culture. Kevin Kelly, co-founder and senior maverick of … [Read more…]

5 Conference Conditions That Lead To Attendee Focused Attention

Note: This post was originally published on July 11, 2011 and has been slightly edited. Attention is a payment of the brain’s resources. It requires that we adjust, engage and sustain each of our nine brain areas involved in attention. We must also exclude, suppress or ignore external and internal distracters–and often that’s the real … [Read more…]

Overcoming These Six Barriers To Audience Resistance To Participation

Even when you’ve adequately communicated the transition from passive attendee to active participant, some audience members will still resist. You’re challenging their comfort zone of passively sitting in a lecture. You are now asking them to engage on a different level which requires being fully present and doing something. And you’re challenging their past school … [Read more…]