Expert insights. Personalized for you.
Last week, my friend Traci Browne wrote to me about a workshop that wasn’t. “You’ll love this…I went to a 4 hour morning workshop at this digital conference. The speaker said, this will be interactive because no one wants to listen to me talk for four hours. MORE
Here are what I think are the two best free easy ways to create graphics for blog posts and presentations if you’re not a graphics wonk. Note: I am not a graphics wonk.) I’ve written over five hundred posts on this blog over the last ten years. MORE
I’m reposting this simple idea for power in hotel rooms from a Facebook post by my friend Kristin Arnold. “Finally!! A smart hotel that put plugs on the head of the bed frame! Way to go Renaissance Atlanta concourse !” MORE
Here’s an example of why I love conference facilitation and design. After setting up a Personal Introspective this morning (25 minutes) I turned over what happens to the small groups. Watch the listening and involvement of every person as I weave my phone through the circles of chairs. MORE
Sharing our experience of others directly with them can be incredibly powerful. Let me tell you a story…. Not long ago, I was working at a multi-day workshop with a 6-person group that included someone I’ll call D. MORE
We are biased against creativity. Though most people say they admire creativity, research indicates we actually prefer inside -the-box thinking. MORE
Want to get a taste of my new book Event Crowdsourcing: Creating Meetings People Actually Want and Need ? (It It will be out in November — next month!) Here are some Event Crowdsourcing free chapters for your enjoyment. Read Event Crowdsourcing free chapters. MORE
Event Crowdsourcing: Creating Meetings People Actually Want and Need I’m happy to announce that my third book Event Crowdsourcing will be released this Fall. It covers a fundamental yet neglected topic: creating meetings people actually want and need. MORE
Stay on time! Though it’s clearly sensible to keep a conference running on schedule, we’ve all attended meetings where rambling presenters, avoidable “technical issues”, incompetent facilitation, and inadequate logistics have made a mockery of the published program. MORE
What’s an Ideal Meeting? April 2018, Meetings and Conventions Magazine Do you incorporate participatory sessions into your events? MORE
“You can’t make people change. But you can create an environment where they choose to.” ” —Seth Godin, Leadership. Change is hard. And you can’t make people change. However, meetings have tremendous potential to change lives. MORE
At BizBash Live DC , BizBash CEO and Founder David Adler and I took the stage at the Ronald Reagan Building for a wide-reaching interview on the best formats for live experiences in front of an invited crowd of several hundred meeting professionals. 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
Good things come in threes. Though I usually overlook anniversaries, I noticed one this morning. The first peer conference I convened and designed was held June 3 – 5, 1992 at Marlboro College, Vermont. MORE
This (slightly edited) interview by JT Long appeared in the March 2019 issue of Smart Meetings Magazine. What led to writing the book, Conferences that Work ? MORE
Here’s a teaser: the introduction to my new book Event Crowdsourcing: Creating Meetings People Actually Want and Need. Interested? Then buy the book ! Curiosity. I’ve always been curious. I’ve always wanted to understand the world I found myself living in. MORE
You can improve meetings by de-emphasizing status. Apart from my first book , I haven’t written much about status at events. It’s time to revisit this important topic. I think about status at events as the relative levels of proclaimed or perceived social value assigned to or assumed by attendees. 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
[link] 40-seconds of highlights from the Participate! workshop and Solution Room I recently facilitated for the New York State Bar Association. 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
“I am crazy but I’m not alone.” ” —participant evaluation comment. Someone wrote “I am crazy but I’m not alone” on the paper evaluation form for the first edACCESS peer conference in 1992. MORE
What might leadership for meetings look like? Let’s turn to Harold Jarche for inspiration: “Those doing the work are often the only ones who really understand the context. Leadership is helping build the structure and then protecting the space to do meaningful work. 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
Why not make your entire conference a braindate? One of Skift’s “ 10 event trends for 2020 ” is networking. The report predicts: “Activities such as braindates that deliver more meaningful connections will become mainstream at events.” MORE
High school feels like a dream. Fifty years later, few distinct memories remain. I’ve only stayed in touch with one friend from those days, so there’s almost no reinforcement from reviewing and remembering the past. And yet there are some experiences that still retain power. MORE
Study this 1839 dinner seating layout. What’s wrong with this picture? Read the full article at Conferences That Work The post Dinner seating — a study appeared first on Conferences That Work. No related posts. Event design dinner men only round tables rounds seating seating design MORE
We’ve all experienced the meeting question that isn’t. A session presenter or moderator asks for questions and someone stands up and starts spouting their own opinions. A concluding question (if they even have one) is little more than an excuse for their own speech. MORE
A recent Wired article argues that “ Science Conferences Are Stuck in the Dark Ages “ Unsurprisingly, I agree — but there’s some light in the darkness! Read the full article at Conferences That Work The post Are science conferences stuck in the Dark Ages? MORE
Here’s my article “ Five Reasons to Change Conferences “ , published in the December 2018, NSA Speaker magazine. 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. MORE
Event design may be more important than you think. I’m going to argue that event design changes society. And I’ve got legendary communications theorist Marshall McLuhan and computer scientist Alan Kay on my side! MORE
“Experiential” is the new hot adjective used to describe events. “No more listening to speakers; you’re going to have experiences !” ” Sadly, many of these so-called experiential events are phony. The promoters slap a novel environment (e.g., MORE
Beware of “experiential” events that are just razzle-dazzle. “Experiential” has become a buzzword to use to describe hip events. Instead of listening to speakers, you’re going to have — wait for it — experiences ! Sounds so much better, doesn’t it? MORE
A September 2019 research study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences clearly illustrates why switching to active learning is hard — and worth it! Lecturing has been the core modality in our education systems for centuries. MORE
At the age of 67, after returning from a meditation retreat , I started running daily for the first time in my life. And I soon learned that the first hill is the hardest. Beginnings. It was summer, and I had no idea what I could do. So I began by exploring without expectations. MORE
Today’s meetings need to give meeting-goers many options, not just a few. But this doesn’t mean filling the conference program with every conceivable session topic. To be enjoyable and productive, meetings need white space : free time for attendees to do what they want and need to do. MORE
What’s the best way to facilitate a community discussion? Recently, I had to answer that question at short notice. My task: design and facilitate a two-hour community discussion in response to a bombshell announcement made by the largest employer in my tiny rural hometown of Marlboro, Vermont. MORE
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.
Conferences that Work
SEPTEMBER 16, 2019
A September 2019 research study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences clearly illustrates why switching to active learning is hard — and worth it! Lecturing has been the core modality in our education systems for centuries.
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Conferences that Work
JANUARY 6, 2020
A recent Wired article argues that “ Science Conferences Are Stuck in the Dark Ages “ Unsurprisingly, I agree — but there’s some light in the darkness! Read the full article at Conferences That Work The post Are science conferences stuck in the Dark Ages?
Conferences that Work
SEPTEMBER 2, 2019
“You can’t make people change. But you can create an environment where they choose to.” ” —Seth Godin, Leadership. Change is hard. And you can’t make people change. However, meetings have tremendous potential to change lives.
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Conferences that Work
DECEMBER 30, 2019
Today’s meetings need to give meeting-goers many options, not just a few. But this doesn’t mean filling the conference program with every conceivable session topic. To be enjoyable and productive, meetings need white space : free time for attendees to do what they want and need to do.
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Conferences that Work
APRIL 1, 2019
This (slightly edited) interview by JT Long appeared in the March 2019 issue of Smart Meetings Magazine. What led to writing the book, Conferences that Work ?
Conferences that Work
JUNE 10, 2019
Here are what I think are the two best free easy ways to create graphics for blog posts and presentations if you’re not a graphics wonk. Note: I am not a graphics wonk.) I’ve written over five hundred posts on this blog over the last ten years.
Conferences that Work
MAY 6, 2019
I’m reposting this simple idea for power in hotel rooms from a Facebook post by my friend Kristin Arnold. “Finally!! A smart hotel that put plugs on the head of the bed frame! Way to go Renaissance Atlanta concourse !”
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.
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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 25, 2019
Why not make your entire conference a braindate? One of Skift’s “ 10 event trends for 2020 ” is networking. The report predicts: “Activities such as braindates that deliver more meaningful connections will become mainstream at events.”
Conferences that Work
JULY 22, 2019
High school feels like a dream. Fifty years later, few distinct memories remain. I’ve only stayed in touch with one friend from those days, so there’s almost no reinforcement from reviewing and remembering the past. And yet there are some experiences that still retain power.
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
DECEMBER 17, 2018
Beware of “experiential” events that are just razzle-dazzle. “Experiential” has become a buzzword to use to describe hip events. Instead of listening to speakers, you’re going to have — wait for it — experiences ! Sounds so much better, doesn’t it?
Conferences that Work
DECEMBER 9, 2019
What’s the best way to facilitate a community discussion? Recently, I had to answer that question at short notice. My task: design and facilitate a two-hour community discussion in response to a bombshell announcement made by the largest employer in my tiny rural hometown of Marlboro, Vermont.
Conferences that Work
DECEMBER 2, 2019
At the age of 67, after returning from a meditation retreat , I started running daily for the first time in my life. And I soon learned that the first hill is the hardest. Beginnings. It was summer, and I had no idea what I could do. So I began by exploring without expectations.
Conferences that Work
JULY 29, 2019
Last week, my friend Traci Browne wrote to me about a workshop that wasn’t. “You’ll love this…I went to a 4 hour morning workshop at this digital conference. The speaker said, this will be interactive because no one wants to listen to me talk for four hours.
Conferences that Work
AUGUST 26, 2019
Here’s a teaser: the introduction to my new book Event Crowdsourcing: Creating Meetings People Actually Want and Need. Interested? Then buy the book ! Curiosity. I’ve always been curious. I’ve always wanted to understand the world I found myself living in.
Conferences that Work
SEPTEMBER 30, 2019
Sharing our experience of others directly with them can be incredibly powerful. Let me tell you a story…. Not long ago, I was working at a multi-day workshop with a 6-person group that included someone I’ll call D.
Conferences that Work
DECEMBER 10, 2018
We are biased against creativity. Though most people say they admire creativity, research indicates we actually prefer inside -the-box thinking.
Conferences that Work
JULY 1, 2019
Event design may be more important than you think. I’m going to argue that event design changes society. And I’ve got legendary communications theorist Marshall McLuhan and computer scientist Alan Kay on my side!
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
DECEMBER 24, 2018
Here’s my article “ Five Reasons to Change Conferences “ , published in the December 2018, NSA Speaker magazine.
Conferences that Work
JANUARY 14, 2019
We’ve all experienced the meeting question that isn’t. A session presenter or moderator asks for questions and someone stands up and starts spouting their own opinions. A concluding question (if they even have one) is little more than an excuse for their own speech.
Conferences that Work
MARCH 25, 2019
Stay on time! Though it’s clearly sensible to keep a conference running on schedule, we’ve all attended meetings where rambling presenters, avoidable “technical issues”, incompetent facilitation, and inadequate logistics have made a mockery of the published program.
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.
Conferences that Work
JUNE 3, 2019
Good things come in threes. Though I usually overlook anniversaries, I noticed one this morning. The first peer conference I convened and designed was held June 3 – 5, 1992 at Marlboro College, Vermont.
Conferences that Work
NOVEMBER 4, 2019
At BizBash Live DC , BizBash CEO and Founder David Adler and I took the stage at the Ronald Reagan Building for a wide-reaching interview on the best formats for live experiences in front of an invited crowd of several hundred meeting professionals.
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
NOVEMBER 5, 2018
[link] 40-seconds of highlights from the Participate! workshop and Solution Room I recently facilitated for the New York State Bar Association.
Conferences that Work
JANUARY 21, 2019
You can improve meetings by de-emphasizing status. Apart from my first book , I haven’t written much about status at events. It’s time to revisit this important topic. I think about status at events as the relative levels of proclaimed or perceived social value assigned to or assumed by attendees.
Conferences that Work
MARCH 18, 2019
“Experiential” is the new hot adjective used to describe events. “No more listening to speakers; you’re going to have experiences !” ” Sadly, many of these so-called experiential events are phony. The promoters slap a novel environment (e.g.,
Conferences that Work
SEPTEMBER 9, 2019
“I am crazy but I’m not alone.” ” —participant evaluation comment. Someone wrote “I am crazy but I’m not alone” on the paper evaluation form for the first edACCESS peer conference in 1992.
Conferences that Work
OCTOBER 21, 2019
Want to get a taste of my new book Event Crowdsourcing: Creating Meetings People Actually Want and Need ? (It It will be out in November — next month!) Here are some Event Crowdsourcing free chapters for your enjoyment. Read Event Crowdsourcing free chapters.
Conferences that Work
APRIL 29, 2019
Here’s an example of why I love conference facilitation and design. After setting up a Personal Introspective this morning (25 minutes) I turned over what happens to the small groups. Watch the listening and involvement of every person as I weave my phone through the circles of chairs.
Conferences that Work
FEBRUARY 18, 2019
What might leadership for meetings look like? Let’s turn to Harold Jarche for inspiration: “Those doing the work are often the only ones who really understand the context. Leadership is helping build the structure and then protecting the space to do meaningful work.
Conferences that Work
JUNE 24, 2019
Event Crowdsourcing: Creating Meetings People Actually Want and Need I’m happy to announce that my third book Event Crowdsourcing will be released this Fall. It covers a fundamental yet neglected topic: creating meetings people actually want and need.
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?
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