Presented at Disrupt Charleston on 10-19-16
Modern meetings mixology provides the right assorted blend of experiences that meet a diverse audience’s needs. The correct combination can provide a unique, memorable learning experience that results in prospects. This talk will cover the 3 key ingredients company’s need to build a personalized event program.
10. Conferences Will Rethink The Micro Learning TED-Style Experience As The Primary Model For Sessions
Too many conference organizers think all conference education sessions should become shorter, micro-learning bursts like IGNITE, Pecha Kucha or TED. Micro-learning is not useful when participants are trying to understand complex issues, develop deep authentic learning or gain a better understanding of a complicated topic says education guru Sharon Boller. Instead, conferences will offer a variety of education sessions from short bursts to deep dives to full day immersions.
design formal and informal learning experiences
Flow is about creating an experience where a person loses their sense of self. They become so consumed in the experience that they don’t focus on anything else except the present moment.Deep play experiences allow participants to become highly engaged in immersive simulations where they can take risks, innovate, experiment and try solutions to problems.
Sure, it’s easy to keep doing the same thing. To keep hosting and participating in the same type of events, with the same pedestrian expectations. But I’m not talking about adding a trip to local golf course or fashionable restaurant district as part of your upcoming meeting. I’m suggesting that you throw out the playbook and give the audience what they’re craving: an exceptional event experience unlike anything that currently exists. An event experience that sends them home in a professional standing better than the one with which they arrived.
design formal and informal learning experiences
Most conference attendees gravitate to others that are like them, have qualities that they want to expand in their network or meet new people through people they already know.
While this intuitively makes sense for how we grow our business networks, it’s counter intuitive to what human beings need to be doing to ensure deep connectivity in relationships. ~ Organizational anthropologist, author and expert Judith Glaser.
When we are involved in sharing with others – sharing deep secrets, sharing what’s on our mind, sharing our fears, our dreams and our aspirations—we activate Temporo Parietal Junction or the TPJ of our brain says Glaser. This process releases the bonding hormone oxytocin which activates higher levels of trust and results in deep connections.
We have to create and design conference experiences that encourage participants to be open, transparent and share their passions, dreams and aspirations. It is only then that they can create deep connections that have long term positive effects.