Taking the “routine” out of the event
Unless you go somewhere exotic and participate in amazing team building events, most conferences are relatively routine. Here are three guidelines that will help you think about designing events that can be life-changing.
Everything means something
Everything people experience at a conference sends a message – from pre-conference materials to the conference gift. For example, how does the message behind the name tag “BOB”, differ from the one that reads “Dr. R.J. Barns, Sr. Vice President, Chemical Spills Division”? What interpretation do people attach to the fact that the President or CEO left right after their speech? It’s not a case of right or wrong, it’s what message do you want to send?
How does it look?
Which room looks engaging, fun and productive; one where participants are in casual clothes, chairs and tables scattered and people talking or the one where participants are in business attire, sitting classroom-style looking up at an elevated lectern? These two groups will behave predictably. You can’t create a spirit of togetherness by having people sitting at individual desks, spread out with most sitting at the back. Want togetherness, creativity, interaction? Book a smaller room and keep it casual.
Provide room for choice
When you give people choice, you give them power and a sense of freedom. Keep some aspects of the conference open. If every moment is scheduled it’s going to feel like the conference is being done to people rather than for people. If opening remarks are scheduled for 9:00 – 9:04 a.m. there’s not a lot of room for creativity, exploration or enthusiasm.
By designing events that are truly human spirit oriented instead of boxed and packaged, amazing things will start to happen.
Copyright: The Ian Percy Corporation. Ian Percy is one of North America’s most inspirational speakers and can be reached at www.ianpercy.com
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