Tag: conference best practices


Four Myths About Introverts, Learning And Conferences

I am an introvert. I enjoy my time alone and typically consider deep relationships as my true friends. I’m not that person that usually enjoys small talk with strangers. However, parts of my job require that I be more outgoing and be the extrovert. When I’m presenting, small talk with participants is critical. I also … [Read more…]

How Tablet Friendly Is Your Conference?

Pew Research released an interesting report: Tablet Ownership 2013. Findings are based on phone interviews conducted with 2,252 adults ages 18 and older in April and May 2013. Attendees are toting tablets at conferences and trade shows in record numbers. They’re downloading slide decks, taking notes, verifying facts, swapping content info, snapping photos, tweeting, posting and scanning attendee … [Read more…]

Your Conference Speakers And Racism

The Zimmerman trial and CBS’ Big Brother racial scandal have put the discussions about race and discrimination front and center. Racism and discrimination are sensitive and delicate topics for sure. So how do you ensure that your conference speakers avoid racial and discriminatory language? How do you protect your organization from inappropriate behavior of a … [Read more…]

Be Wary Of The Collision Of Conference Traditions And Attendee Expectations

The future most conference leaders want is at odds with the present they choose. Conference organizers have not even begun to explore the outer limits of their meeting’s full potential. Currently the conference’s limitless potential is crashing headlong into its leader’s self imposed boundaries and limitations. They sell the conference short. Bumping Up Against The … [Read more…]

A Conference Peer Discussion Manifesto

For too many years, our conference education and experiences have been one-way, from the speaker’s mouth to the listener’s ear. Attendees are like pawns in the speaker’s (faux) control. This passive, inactive experience has led to the myth that experts have knowledge that they can give to attendees through their presentations and then attendees have … [Read more…]

New Research Illustrates Need For More Conference Peer Conversations

23 employers, including the Smithsonian Institution, Microsoft and Marriott International, stated that engaging others in face-to-face interactions in order to find information and solve problems is a competency that they need most in their employees. Unfortunately, they rarely find this skill demonstrated by today’s college-educated employees. Employers Place High Need On Information Problem Solving Project … [Read more…]

Conference Connexity: Delivering On Your Networking Promise [free eBook]

Networking is often the catalyst that prompts people to attend conferences, yet delivering on this expectation can be tricky. What’s even trickier – attendees are getting better at leveraging digital channels to find and connect with the people they most want to meet. They’re not as dependent as they once were on conferences to address … [Read more…]

The Transformative Power Of Peerology

In the world of conference education, the future is not necessarily about the next technology gadget or innovative session format. It’s about something that is as old as disco balls, platform shoes and shag carpeting: peerology. SME — Subject Matter Experts — has long been an important component of education session development. But it’s time … [Read more…]

Top Ten Most Significant Challenges With Conference Education

Along with pending education trends that will influence conference education, there are significant challenges that will also have a tremendous impact. Conference organizers will face these challenges in the coming five years as traditional education methods continue to encounter disruptive innovation. Top Ten Challenges Here are the top ten most significant challenges in terms of … [Read more…]

Is Your Conference Guilty Of Content Bulimia?

Is your conference guilty of creating content bulimia for its stakeholders? You attendees binge and purge information at great speeds as your presenters race to cover content. They enter a room and receive a shovel load of content pushed at them at warp speeds. They think they are consuming as much as possible. As soon … [Read more…]