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We are biased against truly creative event design
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
The top educational meeting format
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?
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Being Present in the Age of the Mind Outside the Brain
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.
When association leadership loses its way
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?
A Practical Guide to Measuring Event Success
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Scenes from a Participate! Workshop and Solution Room
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.
When association leadership loses its way
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?
Have I Met You Before? Three ways to minimize embarrassment when meeting people
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.
Today’s schoolrooms can teach adults the power of positive sharing
Conferences that Work
NOVEMBER 26, 2018
For years I’ve been reading to 3rd & 4th grade students at the Marlboro Elementary School , my amazing local public school. It’s a tiny school that currently serves around 100 pre-kindergarten – 8th grade children (4 – 13 years old).
Aim to serve rather than please
Conferences that Work
OCTOBER 29, 2018
Although I’m simultaneously overwhelmed and underwhelmed by the thousands of books and videos about “leadership” pumped out every year, a recent quote struck a chord: “You’ll do more good if you aim to serve more than you aim to please.” ” — S.
Seating while Eating at Meetings
Conferences that Work
SEPTEMBER 10, 2018
It’s no Comedians in Cars getting Coffee , but here’s my draft script for Seating while Eating at Meetings.
Effortlessly Interact with an Entire Audience from Any Location
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What’s most important about an event, the gift or the wrapping?
Conferences that Work
JULY 23, 2018
While writing about seeing the gifts in people and events I remembered one of my favorite scenes in Love Actually (2003).
Nobody is born ahead of their time
Conferences that Work
AUGUST 13, 2018
After watching Hannah Gadsby ‘s stunning show Nanette — which I highly recommend — here’s a small piece worth sharing. Gadsby starts with Vincent Van Gogh, looking at how we’ve come to lionize the idea of misunderstood genius. Born ahead of his time,” she says. What a load of s**t.
Is paid influencer marketing ethical in the event industry?
Conferences that Work
SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
Paid influencer marketing is spreading to the event industry, and I doubt that it’s an ethical practice. Last week I received the following voice mail (identifying details have been bleeped; transcript below.). link].
An innovative conference competition format
Conferences that Work
SEPTEMBER 17, 2018
My Dutch friend and expert moderator, Jan Jaap In der Maur , recently shared an innovative format for an in-conference pitch competition he devised for the Conventa Crossover Conference , in Ljubljana, Slovenia: “There were also the Conventa Crossover Awards.
Guaranteeing audience engagement at your events
Conferences that Work
NOVEMBER 21, 2016
Most people won’t ask questions at meetings. So how can you get authentic audience engagement at your events? In a thoughtful article “ Audience Engagement – at the Heart of Meetings “, Pádraic Gilligan writes: “…We all want audience engagement so why doesn’t it take place?…While
The creative event design tool that all #eventprofs should use
Conferences that Work
APRIL 30, 2018
Here’s a powerful tool you can use to generate creative event designs. You can use this tool for every aspect of event design. Stylists working on the look and feel of an event often use it to stimulate fresh thinking about the venue, the décor, the lighting, the food and beverage, entertainment, and so on. Rarely, however, is this tool used to design events that creatively incorporate, illuminate, and support core desires and outcomes for the meeting.
What’s the best learning model for conference sessions?
Conferences that Work
OCTOBER 3, 2016
We don’t usually think about the learning models we employ during conference sessions, and I believe our events would be better if we did. Conventional conferences assume a ready supply of experts to whom we listen while they cover the learning that has been advertised at their sessions.
Create memorable learning experiences and connections at simple workshops
Conferences that Work
JULY 30, 2018
I often design and facilitate workshops for association members who mostly haven’t met before. The desired outcomes are for each participant to gain useful and relevant professional insights, and to make significant new connections.
The meeting industry’s biggest dirty secret
Conferences that Work
JULY 10, 2017
There are some things that the meeting industry doesn’t like to talk about in public. For example: Revenue models. Who actually paid for all that sybaritic F&B? You’ll never know.). Clients from hell. They might figure out it’s them I was talking about and I need the business.).
Three better alternatives to the conference lecture
Conferences that Work
AUGUST 6, 2018
Ah, the ubiquitous conference one-hour lecture. How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways. Actually I don’t need to do that since Donald Bligh listed them all in his classic book What’s The Use Of Lectures? first published in 1972 ! Rather than reiterate the shortcomings of broadcast-style teaching, I’ll go positive and describe three superior alternatives to sitting through an expert’s non-stop utterances.
Why you should run The Solution Room at your next event
Conferences that Work
MAY 21, 2018
The Solution Room is rapidly becoming a popular meeting plenary.
How to trash your brand
Conferences that Work
AUGUST 20, 2018
If I could completely avoid flying American Airlines I would. Not because of the airline’s mediocre rankings in on-time arrivals, lost baggage, fees, and customer satisfaction. After all, there are some airlines that are even worse (Spirit, I’m looking at you ).
22 great iPhone/iPad apps for event professionals
Conferences that Work
MAY 22, 2017
Two years have passed since the last update of my favorite iPad/iPhone apps for event professionals. Apps continue to be born, evolve, and, sometimes, die—so it’s time for my latest list of event professionals’ great apps! Read the full article at Conferences That Work.
Four reasons why traditional conferences are obsolete
Conferences that Work
OCTOBER 24, 2016
Previously, I’ve described three major trends that make traditional conference formats obsolete: No longer knowing in advance what attendees want to learn ; The rise of online ; and. The massive change in how we learn what we need to know to do our jobs. Here’s a fourth.
How to help meeting design clients figure out what they really want and need
Conferences that Work
JULY 2, 2018
Great — a client who doesn’t know what they want! Recently, a client asked for help designing a new conference. Thirty minutes of discussion with three stakeholders revealed they hadn’t yet settled on the event’s specific purpose, scope, and format. From my perspective this is actually a great problem to have. Because most clients engage me after they are committed to programs and logistics that are not optimum for what they’re trying to accomplish!
Charles, Lawrence, David Bowie, and me
Conferences that Work
MARCH 20, 2017
My first public gig as a musician was at David Bowie’s Beckenham Arts Lab. Read the full article at Conferences That Work.
Nine conference mythodologies
Conferences that Work
MAY 14, 2018
Long ago, consultant Tom Gilb coined the term “mythodology” to describe erroneous but commonly held beliefs about how something should be done. Here are nine mythodologies about conferences. Mythodology: We know what our attendees want to learn about. Reality : No, you don’t. At least half the sessions programmed at traditional conferences are not what attendees want. Mythodology: Event socials are a good way to meet people.
How to design for powerful connection and learning at large meetings
Conferences that Work
JULY 9, 2018
Although you’d never guess it from reading meeting industry trade journals, most meetings are small meetings , and this is a good thing if you want effective and relevant connection and learning to take place. Large meetings stroke owners’ and leaders’ egos, can supply impressive spectacle, are appropriate places to launch campaigns and mass announcements, and can be very profitable.
The architecture of assembly
Conferences that Work
APRIL 3, 2017
“Architecture sets the stage for our lives; it creates the world we inhabit and shapes how we relate to one another. In a time in which democracy is under increasing pressure in different parts of the world, it is time to rethink the architecture of assembly.”
Should presenter contracts include a no brown M&Ms rider?
Conferences that Work
DECEMBER 5, 2016
Van Halen ‘s 1982 World Tour performance contract contained a provision calling for them to be provided backstage with a bowl of M&Ms from which all the brown candies had been removed.
How to inspire transformational learning
Conferences that Work
AUGUST 21, 2017
Why do some learning experiences stay burning in our brains and others fade into oblivion? Read the full article at Conferences That Work.
Why experiential learning is superior to every other kind
Conferences that Work
SEPTEMBER 11, 2017
Why is experiential learning superior to every other kind? In a word: feedback. Jerry Weinberg explains simply and concisely. “Why is reading or writing something different from doing something? First consider reading. Reading is (usually) a solitary activity, with no feedback.
Six ways to keep attendees comfortable and improve your event
Conferences that Work
MAY 29, 2017
While stuck in cramped seats during a six-hour Boston to San Francisco flight recently, my wife gently pointed out that I had become quite grumpy. She helped me notice that my lack of body comfort was affecting my mood.
When event covenants collide—a story
Conferences that Work
SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
I was facilitating a one-day workshop for 24 college presidents. At the start, we agreed to follow six covenants , including the freedom to ask questions at any time , and a commitment to stay on schedule.
Create Powerful Meetings Instead of Power-over Meetings
Conferences that Work
JUNE 5, 2017
All meetings incorporate power relationships that fundamentally affect their dynamics and potential. Traditional conferences unconsciously promote and sustain power imbalances between the “speakers” at the front of the room and the audience.
To build connection and engagement at events — give up control!
Conferences that Work
JANUARY 16, 2017
How can we build connection and engagement with people with whom we work? My wise consultant friend Naomi Karten tells a short story about a client’s unexpected reaction.
Lessons From Improv: Seeing the Gifts in People and Events
Conferences that Work
JULY 16, 2018
Thoughts triggered while rereading Patricia Ryan Madson’s delightful, straightforward, and yet profound improv wisdom. Ooh, this is a hard one for me, but it’s so important for anyone working in the meeting profession. “I can look at a person or event from three vantage points. To see what’s wrong with it ( the critical method commonly used in higher education). Using this lens the self looms large. To see it objectively ( the scientific method ).
Help Wanted—Venues for my participation techniques workshops!
Conferences that Work
OCTOBER 20, 2016
The success of my last request for workshop help has inspired me to ask for more.
Five reasons NOT to use a Conferences That Work meeting design
Conferences that Work
SEPTEMBER 26, 2016
I’ve been promoting the Conferences That Work meeting format for so long, that some people assume I think it’s the right choice for every meeting. Well, it’s not. Here are (drum roll!)
Avoid this common mistake when planning meeting programs
Conferences that Work
JULY 31, 2017
Although I have good reasons to champion meeting designs where the participants get to choose what they want and need to discuss and learn rather than a program committee , there is invariably a place for some predetermined presentations at conferences.
Three ways to make it easier for attendees to participate
Conferences that Work
MARCH 13, 2017
How do we get people to participate at meetings? We know that participants — people who are active learners — learn more, retain more, and retain more accurately than passive attendees. They are also far more likely to make valuable connections with their peers during the event.
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