Expert insights. Personalized for you.
Adding to my reports on new platforms providing online incarnations of traditional conference socials , here’s a review of online social platform Rally. Two points before we start. MORE
Is it possible to routinely start online meetings on time? But first…. Think about the last three meetings you attended. Raise your hand if all of them started on time. Anyone? Anyone? Why don’t scheduled meetings start on time? The reason that almost no scheduled meetings (in-person or online ) start on time is that we provide one single time for meetings to both open and start. MORE
How can we create great online breakout sessions? Does this sound familiar? You attend a conference session on a topic that interests you. Perhaps you’re a novice, or an expert, or someone in between. Or perhaps you want a general introduction. Perhaps you have a few specific aspects you want to hear about, or questions to which you’d love to get answers. The presenter begins, and you quickly realize the session is not going to meet your needs. (Or, MORE
I’m holding TWO #Eventprofs Happy Hours next Friday, August 7, at 10:00 EDT/16:00 CEST and 15:00 EDT/21:00 CEST. The first one is especially for you Europeans who insist on living your lives five or six hours ahead of mine, but night owls are welcome at the later one too. MORE
How can we entwine content and connection during an online conference? During a MeetingsCommunity (MeCo) discussion thread “ Networking at conferences ” last week, Sharon Fisher posted this. Sharon’s post. Hi all, I am coming in very late to this conversation, but figured it’s never too late to share. MORE
Part 1 of this series of posts gave an overview of what’s involved in implementing participant-driven breakouts in Zoom. Read it before diving into this post! In this post (Part 2) I’ll cover most of Step #1 of the previous post: preparing for The Three Questions using Zoom breakout rooms. If necessary, get familiar with Zoom, including breakout room functions, before proceeding. MORE
What’s an Ideal Meeting? April 2018, Meetings and Conventions Magazine Do you incorporate participatory sessions into your events? MORE
This is not an easy post to write. The pandemic’s impact on lives and businesses has been devastating. COVID-19 has virtually eliminated in-person meetings: our industry’s bread and butter. MORE
Part 1 of this series of posts gave an overview of what’s involved in implementing participant-driven breakouts in Zoom. Part 2 explains how to prepare for The Three Questions using Zoom breakout rooms. Read them before diving into this post! MORE
What’s the best way to hold a discussion online? For years I’ve been successfully facilitating in-person group discussions at meetings, using the simple fishbowl and fishbowl sandwich processes. These techniques work because at any moment, only a small, clearly defined, (but constantly changing) group of people are involved in the discussion. As a result you can moderate an interesting, orderly discussion with hundreds of people, any of who have an equal opportunity to speak. MORE
Here are five meeting design books I especially recommend. Each gets a short overview, so you can figure out which one(s) will satisfy your wants and needs. In an outrageous display of chutzpah , I wrote three of these books. [If MORE
I’ve been noticing a strange trend, ever since COVID-19 caused just about all bread and butter meetings to vanish. Suddenly, people are calling the meetings we’re holding these days virtual meetings. In the immortal words of Bob Newhart. Stop it! Virtual. I’m sorry, but when I think of a virtual meeting, this comes to mind…. together with content like this…. MORE
Is it OK for a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit association to make large profits, pay its four top executives well over $1M per year, and yet do little for its members? MORE
An embarrassing incident I was hanging out at the Marlboro South Pond Regatta , a whimsical affair where local sailors of all stripes and abilities casually “race” around a few buoys in the lake, sometimes stopping to chat mid-race with each other or watch our beautiful loons. MORE
The other day, Celia and I were walking in Boston’s beautiful Arnold Arboretum when she asked me who’d responded to an email I’d sent. When I pulled out my phone to answer her question, she said she felt she was walking with a third person, a stranger. MORE
Meeting planners typically default to squaring the circle when specifying room sets. They persist in seating attendees in long straight lines whenever possible, ignoring the benefits of curved and circular seating at their events. See Paul Radde’s Seating Matters: State of the Art Seating Arrangements for more information.) The architecture of assembly where curved theatre seating dominates, teaches us otherwise. MORE
Why should you hire curious people? Because the future of work belongs to the neo-generalist. And neo-generalists are intensely curious. Here’s Harold Jarche, explaining the importance of generalists: Wicked problems need neo-generalists. Neo-generalists defy common understanding. MORE
How I got here? Schoolboy days. I have little memory of my earliest formal education though I suspect it has informed my entire life. My mother decided that I should attend London’s Chelsea Froebel School. MORE
Exactly one year ago, at the age of 68, I started running daily for the first time in my life. Since then, I’ve shared a few things learned along the way. Today I thought: why not provide a seasonal guide to what I wear for running? Note: There are no affiliate links in this post (or on this website), and I have no connection with any of the sellers or companies mentioned.]. How far do I run? MORE
Please stop treating adults like children at your conferences. For an exception, see the end of this post.). With children there’s an argument for broadcast-style learning. Schools originally developed as establishments for improving the efficiency of oral communication of information. MORE
Despite the terrible impacts of the coronavirus on the meeting industry, there’s a silver lining. Hear me out! There’s no question times are hard. The coronavirus pandemic has already devastated lives and businesses globally, and we don’t know how much worse things will get. The meeting industry is reeling under a wave of cancellations, postponements, and uncertainty. MORE
I’m leading a free online workshop on Friday, June 26, 12 – 2 pm EDT, that will give you a unique opportunity to experience The Three Questions : in my opinion, the best way to open a conference designed for active learning, connection, and engagement. The workshop is limited to sixty people, and you must register to attend. Full details about the event are available here. MORE
How often have you heard “Any questions?” ” at the end of a conference session? Hands rise, and the presenter picks an audience member who asks a question. The presenter answers the question and picks another questioner. The process continues for a few minutes. Simple enough. We’ve been using this Q&A format for centuries. But can we improve it? Read the full article at Conferences That Work The post Any questions? MORE
If you can’t hang out with people in person, how can you best meet up with your tribe online? That’s the selling proposition for a host of new platforms that have sprung up over the last few months: creating a compelling online incarnation of the traditional conference socials we all know and love (or hate). Last week I got to try out a couple of these new platforms, so I thought I’d write a Gatherly versus YoTribe review. MORE
I am designing an online memorial service, to be held later this month. The deceased is not a person, but a beloved, 74-year-old small college that closed its local campus a few months ago. I taught there from 1983 – 1993. MORE
Why implement participant-driven breakouts in Zoom? I’ve been designing and facilitating participant-driven and participation-rich in person meetings — aka peer conferences — for almost thirty years. Because participants love these meetings ! Now the covid-19 pandemic has forced meetings online. Unfortunately, most online events are still using a traditional webinar/broadcast-style approach: presenters speaking for long periods, interspersed with chat-mediated Q&A. Why Zoom? MORE
How can you support a community online during covid-19? Over the last few weeks I’ve run numerous online Zoom meetings for support groups and local, social, and professional communities. In the process, I’ve learned a lot about what makes these meetings most useful for participants. I’m sharing what I’ve learned (so far) here. Key takeaways. Breakout room functionality is essential for your online meeting platform. MORE
How can we successfully work with others for change and action? During the last eight months, I’ve been striving to save a tiny liberal arts school , Marlboro College , from closure. MORE
If you missed David Adler ‘s & my closing keynote Leadership, Events, Shackleton, Survival, and Hope at Untethered2020 , you can watch it at the end of this post. MORE
Unlearning is crucial for change. We often think of change as additive. We become wiser by “learning something new”. What we often overlook is that changing our beliefs, attitudes, and assumptions involves unlearning as well as learning. MORE
Why would you want to share information, not hoard it? In today’s cutthroat business environment, isn’t exclusive knowledge synonymous with power — and the ability to make money? Well, if you’re a stock trader or house flipper, maybe. MORE
Whenever I open a meeting I run a human spectrogram map, allowing participants to quickly discover everyone at the meeting who lives (or works) near them. This is one of the most useful things you can do for a group of people who don’t know each other — and it only takes a few minutes! MORE
Providing downtime during any meeting is important , but it’s especially important to schedule breaks during online meetings. What happens if you don’t schedule breaks during online meetings. Some people have the attitude that attendees at online meetings are grown-ups and they should be given the freedom to take a break when they want and/or need to. Let’s explore this. Obviously, there are times when online meeting participants need to take a break. MORE
The Association for Software Testing (AST) has just issued a free guide to creating peer conferences. I believe the software testing community adopted my term “peer conference” for their get-togethers after a conversation I had with pioneer software tester James Bach in 2004. MORE
How are eventprofs feeling during COVID-19? Over the past few weeks in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic, I’ve listened to hundreds of people share their feelings at online meetings I’ve led and joined. MORE
Conferences that Work
AUGUST 17, 2020
This is not an easy post to write. The pandemic’s impact on lives and businesses has been devastating. COVID-19 has virtually eliminated in-person meetings: our industry’s bread and butter.
Conferences that Work
AUGUST 31, 2020
Please stop treating adults like children at your conferences. For an exception, see the end of this post.). With children there’s an argument for broadcast-style learning. Schools originally developed as establishments for improving the efficiency of oral communication of information.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Conferences that Work
SEPTEMBER 14, 2020
I am designing an online memorial service, to be held later this month. The deceased is not a person, but a beloved, 74-year-old small college that closed its local campus a few months ago. I taught there from 1983 – 1993.
Conferences that Work
SEPTEMBER 7, 2020
Adding to my reports on new platforms providing online incarnations of traditional conference socials , here’s a review of online social platform Rally. Two points before we start.
Advertisement
Can you measure event ROI? 3 in 5 marketers can't. Learn how with this free ROI model.
Conferences that Work
AUGUST 10, 2020
Is it possible to routinely start online meetings on time? But first…. Think about the last three meetings you attended. Raise your hand if all of them started on time. Anyone? Anyone? Why don’t scheduled meetings start on time? The reason that almost no scheduled meetings (in-person or online ) start on time is that we provide one single time for meetings to both open and start.
.png)
|
Conferences that Work
AUGUST 24, 2020
Here are five meeting design books I especially recommend. Each gets a short overview, so you can figure out which one(s) will satisfy your wants and needs. In an outrageous display of chutzpah , I wrote three of these books. [If
Conferences that Work
AUGUST 3, 2020
How can we create great online breakout sessions? Does this sound familiar? You attend a conference session on a topic that interests you. Perhaps you’re a novice, or an expert, or someone in between. Or perhaps you want a general introduction. Perhaps you have a few specific aspects you want to hear about, or questions to which you’d love to get answers. The presenter begins, and you quickly realize the session is not going to meet your needs. (Or,
Conferences that Work
FEBRUARY 17, 2020
Why would you want to share information, not hoard it? In today’s cutthroat business environment, isn’t exclusive knowledge synonymous with power — and the ability to make money? Well, if you’re a stock trader or house flipper, maybe.
Conferences that Work
MAY 11, 2020
Why implement participant-driven breakouts in Zoom? I’ve been designing and facilitating participant-driven and participation-rich in person meetings — aka peer conferences — for almost thirty years. Because participants love these meetings ! Now the covid-19 pandemic has forced meetings online. Unfortunately, most online events are still using a traditional webinar/broadcast-style approach: presenters speaking for long periods, interspersed with chat-mediated Q&A. Why Zoom?
Advertisement
1,000 Participants. 75 Locations. 1 Solution.
|
|
Conferences that Work
MAY 4, 2020
Providing downtime during any meeting is important , but it’s especially important to schedule breaks during online meetings. What happens if you don’t schedule breaks during online meetings. Some people have the attitude that attendees at online meetings are grown-ups and they should be given the freedom to take a break when they want and/or need to. Let’s explore this. Obviously, there are times when online meeting participants need to take a break.
Conferences that Work
AUGUST 3, 2020
I’m holding TWO #Eventprofs Happy Hours next Friday, August 7, at 10:00 EDT/16:00 CEST and 15:00 EDT/21:00 CEST. The first one is especially for you Europeans who insist on living your lives five or six hours ahead of mine, but night owls are welcome at the later one too.
Conferences that Work
JUNE 29, 2020
I’ve been noticing a strange trend, ever since COVID-19 caused just about all bread and butter meetings to vanish. Suddenly, people are calling the meetings we’re holding these days virtual meetings. In the immortal words of Bob Newhart. Stop it! Virtual. I’m sorry, but when I think of a virtual meeting, this comes to mind…. together with content like this….
Conferences that Work
MARCH 30, 2020
How can you support a community online during covid-19? Over the last few weeks I’ve run numerous online Zoom meetings for support groups and local, social, and professional communities. In the process, I’ve learned a lot about what makes these meetings most useful for participants. I’m sharing what I’ve learned (so far) here. Key takeaways. Breakout room functionality is essential for your online meeting platform.
Advertisement
Virtual events open up a whole new world of possibilities for engaging your attendees. This best practices guide will help you make the most of your online conferences, summits, keynote presentations, and more.
Conferences that Work
MARCH 16, 2020
Despite the terrible impacts of the coronavirus on the meeting industry, there’s a silver lining. Hear me out! There’s no question times are hard. The coronavirus pandemic has already devastated lives and businesses globally, and we don’t know how much worse things will get. The meeting industry is reeling under a wave of cancellations, postponements, and uncertainty.
Conferences that Work
APRIL 13, 2020
How are eventprofs feeling during COVID-19? Over the past few weeks in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic, I’ve listened to hundreds of people share their feelings at online meetings I’ve led and joined.
Conferences that Work
MAY 25, 2020
Part 1 of this series of posts gave an overview of what’s involved in implementing participant-driven breakouts in Zoom. Part 2 explains how to prepare for The Three Questions using Zoom breakout rooms. Read them before diving into this post!
Conferences that Work
JUNE 22, 2020
I’m leading a free online workshop on Friday, June 26, 12 – 2 pm EDT, that will give you a unique opportunity to experience The Three Questions : in my opinion, the best way to open a conference designed for active learning, connection, and engagement. The workshop is limited to sixty people, and you must register to attend. Full details about the event are available here.
Speaker: Mike Damphousse, Managing Partner of Category Design Advisors and Founder of Green Leads
Business as we know it is never going to be the same. Working from home has become the norm, conferences and meetings are going online, marketing budgets are being shifted, reduced or put on hold – it's time to adapt. Join this insightful and informative webinar with Mike Damphousse, Managing Partner of Category Design Advisors and Founder of Green Leads, who will discuss how businesses can be resilient during these challenging times.
Conferences that Work
JANUARY 20, 2020
The Association for Software Testing (AST) has just issued a free guide to creating peer conferences. I believe the software testing community adopted my term “peer conference” for their get-togethers after a conversation I had with pioneer software tester James Bach in 2004.
Conferences that Work
JULY 20, 2020
What’s the best way to hold a discussion online? For years I’ve been successfully facilitating in-person group discussions at meetings, using the simple fishbowl and fishbowl sandwich processes. These techniques work because at any moment, only a small, clearly defined, (but constantly changing) group of people are involved in the discussion. As a result you can moderate an interesting, orderly discussion with hundreds of people, any of who have an equal opportunity to speak.
Conferences that Work
OCTOBER 15, 2018
The other day, Celia and I were walking in Boston’s beautiful Arnold Arboretum when she asked me who’d responded to an email I’d sent. When I pulled out my phone to answer her question, she said she felt she was walking with a third person, a stranger.
Conferences that Work
APRIL 22, 2019
How often have you heard “Any questions?” ” at the end of a conference session? Hands rise, and the presenter picks an audience member who asks a question. The presenter answers the question and picks another questioner. The process continues for a few minutes. Simple enough. We’ve been using this Q&A format for centuries. But can we improve it? Read the full article at Conferences That Work The post Any questions?
Speaker: John Storm, President, BrainStorm Network
In this webinar, we’ll use a sampling of case studies, tools, techniques, and strategic stories to help you identify game-changing opportunities within your company and the world of events, and then brainstorm ways to capitalize on these ideas. Get ready to change your game in 2020!
Conferences that Work
JULY 13, 2020
How can we entwine content and connection during an online conference? During a MeetingsCommunity (MeCo) discussion thread “ Networking at conferences ” last week, Sharon Fisher posted this. Sharon’s post. Hi all, I am coming in very late to this conversation, but figured it’s never too late to share.
Conferences that Work
DECEMBER 16, 2019
Why should you hire curious people? Because the future of work belongs to the neo-generalist. And neo-generalists are intensely curious. Here’s Harold Jarche, explaining the importance of generalists: Wicked problems need neo-generalists. Neo-generalists defy common understanding.
Conferences that Work
NOVEMBER 19, 2018
What’s an Ideal Meeting? April 2018, Meetings and Conventions Magazine Do you incorporate participatory sessions into your events?
Conferences that Work
MAY 18, 2020
Part 1 of this series of posts gave an overview of what’s involved in implementing participant-driven breakouts in Zoom. Read it before diving into this post! In this post (Part 2) I’ll cover most of Step #1 of the previous post: preparing for The Three Questions using Zoom breakout rooms. If necessary, get familiar with Zoom, including breakout room functions, before proceeding.
Advertisement
Your employees are smoking, and at a cost of $7,000 per year for each employee who smokes, that adds up - fast! This free report will show you how an effective cessation program pays for itself.
Conferences that Work
JANUARY 27, 2020
Unlearning is crucial for change. We often think of change as additive. We become wiser by “learning something new”. What we often overlook is that changing our beliefs, attitudes, and assumptions involves unlearning as well as learning.
Conferences that Work
JUNE 1, 2020
If you missed David Adler ‘s & my closing keynote Leadership, Events, Shackleton, Survival, and Hope at Untethered2020 , you can watch it at the end of this post.
Conferences that Work
APRIL 6, 2020
How I got here? Schoolboy days. I have little memory of my earliest formal education though I suspect it has informed my entire life. My mother decided that I should attend London’s Chelsea Froebel School.
Conferences that Work
JUNE 22, 2020
If you can’t hang out with people in person, how can you best meet up with your tribe online? That’s the selling proposition for a host of new platforms that have sprung up over the last few months: creating a compelling online incarnation of the traditional conference socials we all know and love (or hate). Last week I got to try out a couple of these new platforms, so I thought I’d write a Gatherly versus YoTribe review.
Conferences that Work
JULY 27, 2020
Exactly one year ago, at the age of 68, I started running daily for the first time in my life. Since then, I’ve shared a few things learned along the way. Today I thought: why not provide a seasonal guide to what I wear for running? Note: There are no affiliate links in this post (or on this website), and I have no connection with any of the sellers or companies mentioned.]. How far do I run?
Conferences that Work
NOVEMBER 12, 2018
Is it OK for a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit association to make large profits, pay its four top executives well over $1M per year, and yet do little for its members?
Conferences that Work
JULY 8, 2019
Meeting planners typically default to squaring the circle when specifying room sets. They persist in seating attendees in long straight lines whenever possible, ignoring the benefits of curved and circular seating at their events. See Paul Radde’s Seating Matters: State of the Art Seating Arrangements for more information.) The architecture of assembly where curved theatre seating dominates, teaches us otherwise.
Conferences that Work
FEBRUARY 10, 2020
Whenever I open a meeting I run a human spectrogram map, allowing participants to quickly discover everyone at the meeting who lives (or works) near them. This is one of the most useful things you can do for a group of people who don’t know each other — and it only takes a few minutes!
Conferences that Work
AUGUST 27, 2018
An embarrassing incident I was hanging out at the Marlboro South Pond Regatta , a whimsical affair where local sailors of all stripes and abilities casually “race” around a few buoys in the lake, sometimes stopping to chat mid-race with each other or watch our beautiful loons.
197 
Let's personalize your content