Panel discussions are still a commonly used format for conference organizers. They’re easy to program and put the kids in the show, but rarely add learning value to the paying participants. Some of the reasons panels fail to connect include: Lack of preparation and take-charge leadership in the learning design. Watered down content due to general vs. relevant topics and opinions. Low learning value equivalent to a lecture. (Instead of a monologue lecture, panels are often … [Read more...]
Conference Connexity: Deliver Your Networking Promise Webinar September 9
We spend the majority of our day in front of screens and media (digital, print & TV) says eMarketer. No wonder we are starved for face to face interactions! Your organization can help satisfy our cravings for community and connections by delivering conference experiences that foster connexity. Connexity is more than speed networking. It is more than just an evening reception or party. It is a tech term for the merging of community and connections. And it is one of the main reasons … [Read more...]
Want To Help Your Attendees? Stop Calling It Networking!
Attendees value the connections they make at your conference. It’s one of their most treasured intangible benefits of attendance. They come to your event looking for their people. They meet many of your attendees at receptions, meals, sessions and in the hallways. Unfortunately, many of those introductions are nothing more than empty interactions. They don’t really connect with others. Then loneliness creeps in. They feel isolated and alone in a sea of others. That loneliness makes … [Read more...]
NetWORTHing: The New Way to Network At Conferences
Have you ever been a victim of a network drive-by at a conference? Violated by someone who only talks to you if they think you can do something for them? The whole time they’ve got one eye searching for a more influential target to move to. Everyone has been burned by someone who in the name of networking, was only pursuing their own selfish agenda. These people have made networking a dirty word. RIP Speed Networking Speed networking, which unfortunately is still popular with some … [Read more...]
Fostering Planned Serendipity At Conferences
Some people call it luck. Others call it fate. Whatever we call it, serendipity is a wonderful thing. We’ve all experienced it at a conference. That happy accident or surprising discovery when you sit next to someone at a session who deals with the same work challenges as you. This new serendipitous connection introduces you to other like-minded participants and before you know it, you’re meeting up for dinner. You leave the conference with new connections that will continue to grow … [Read more...]
You Need To Invest In This Primary Career Insurance Policy: Your Network
When do you need a personal, social network the most? Think about that for a moment. When is your network of business professionals the most valuable to you? When you need a new job. Right?! That’s when most of us turn to our network of professional colleagues. The Dumped CEO Sitting across my desk was a newly dumped CEO who was on the wrong side of an acquisition. “Tell me about the depth and strength of your professional network,” I asked. His face sunk. "You mean the people … [Read more...]
365-Day Conferences Are Unrealistic
We’ve been hearing it for years. Conference organizers have been on a quest to create a 365-day community around their big annual event. As a result, industry education sessions and event technology products have adopted the year-round concept and branding. But there’s a problem, attendees and exhibitors aren’t falling in line. They’ll give you their attention for a limited time and then move on with their pressing priorities. They’re not interested in 365. They’re interested in solving … [Read more...]
Lessons From Bruno Mars on Audience Engagement
What can Bruno Mars teach us about audience engagement for our ballroom experiences? Plenty. Earlier this week, I witnessed 7,000 participants (from Linksters to Boomers) stand, clap, sing and dance for 75 minutes at his sold-out Denver Moonshine Jungle concert. If you saw his performance at the 2014 Super Bowl halftime, you already know the enormous talent that’s packed into this five-foot tall young man. The dude is a triple threat! Emotional Journeys Improve the Experience Bruno … [Read more...]
