Belonging precedes believing. It’s true for our association members. It’s true for our organization’s leaders. The ways we include or exclude others influences their thoughts and actions. It’s more than what we say or write. It’s how we invite others to join and belong, how we greet them, how we appreciate them, how we accept them. Belonging is vital because belonging precedes believing which precedes people behaving together. Meaningful Belonging Leads To Shared Beliefs And … [Read more...]
Our Increased Distrust Of Institutions And What It Means To Your Association, Conference
“I’m done with __________________!” Go ahead and fill in that blank with any type of institution. Big business, conferences, education, government, medicine, membership associations, nonprofits, professional societies, religious organizations, trade organizations, etc. We are witnessing the rise of the Dones, as Dr. Josh Packard calls them. Groups of people that are done with traditional, outdated institutions. And before you dismiss this post…know that Packard’s research applies to your … [Read more...]
Becoming A Conference Possibilist And Foster Mind-Share Collaboration Event Experiences
What is the breakthrough you most want to see happen in your conference in the next year? What do you imagine could be possible if you were truly collaborating with your conference planning team, leadership and volunteers? What effect would leading through collaboration have on those who follow you? In order to do so, you need some new thinking partners. You need a team of collaborators that will challenge you to explore different ways of relating to your conference stakeholders. You need … [Read more...]
Your Conference Audience Matters More Than You Think!
Having an audience at a conference is no longer a novel idea. It’s expected and a given. Unless you’re a speaker that didn’t resonate with this audience in a past meeting. Then you probably have a very small or limited audience if any. How you define your conference audience defines how you design your event. The audience matters. And the way you define your conference audience matters more than you think! Defining The Audience Most dictionaries define an audience as a group of … [Read more...]