What no longer works at corporate events

1. Monotone Lectures

The single speaker reading off note cards or even lecturing from memory doesn’t hold the audience’s attention long enough to create experiential engagement. Even if the topic is great, today’s modern audience has a short attention span and wants to be part of the event in multiple ways through participation, fun, and stimulation.

Effective communication at corporate events is not possible without connecting to the person.

2. Power Point Slides Against the White Background

Facts & data standing staunchly against the suspended white board encourages boredom like no other.

While content slides are pretty much a requirement, that doesn’t mean you need to adhere to outdated formats. Get creative with it! Add some color and a dash of humor. People learn best and retain what they are learning in a fun environment.

Let the images and messages interact with the audience. That visual stimulation brings energy and excitement to your audience.

3. Same Old Venue

When conference education looks and feels repetitious – the mind pays less attention.

For an exciting and effective corporate event production, change the venue. Not just the location – change everything about it! Audience members need stimulation in order to learn and be productive.

Break out sessions promote real time learning, but don’t pull in the reins on your breakout design. Make it so delicious that participants will want to unpack what they learned instead of leaving it in their mental waste basket.

4. Audience without Participation

The tactic of having a speaker and a listening only audience has lost its power. The audience is waiting for their invitation to participate.

In fact, interactivity is one of the key adult learning tactics out there. If you’re an event producer or event director, you’re selling yourself short if you aren’t engaging your audience by making them stand up and shake their bodies around.

Invite them and feel the atmosphere change.

5. Basic RSVP

Have you ever wondered why you and only a few others are at this fabulous corporate event? Everything was checked off, in place, and rather exciting…you thought. The days of sending out an RSVP slip and expecting the crowd…is in the past.

Change the RSVP of the past into something like this:

Registration Setup Early

Set yourself up for Success!

Venue Surprise

Provide Teaser Content

Plan. Prepare strategically with your RSVP…and they will come.

Technology has Changed the Way we Experience Things

We experience life on the screen with family & friends…sharing pictures and moments – with those that live at the opposite end of the world.

We browse online instead of window shopping. Some may not physically shop at brick & mortar stores but purchase online and have it delivered the same day to their front door.

Differences in Consumer & Audience Behavior in Recent Decades

Consumer’s today is like the audience at the corporate event – they are not sit-down shopper’s…they want to participate.

In the past decades the consumer shopped from displays at brick & mortar stores with no input. Today the consumer designs the display. Companies encourage insight from their buyers so that they may provide what they desire. It’s a “win-win.”

Audiences in the past were listener’s and note takers. Today, audiences want to engage experientially and share insights that will benefit not only themselves but the company. Through internal communication relationships are built – and so are successful companies.

Pre-Event Engagement

There was a time when you didn’t know who was calling when the phone rang. A time when you opened the mailbox – and surprise! – a letter from your favorite person that you had been missing.

The build up for Christmas! The excitement! The mystery!

Anticipation! Surprise!

Combine these elements and woo your employees through pre-event engagement.

Closing the Conference

In one year, employees may not remember all that was presented at the conference, but they will remember how it made them feel.

Enhance your closing with something to delight their memory and your annual conference or convention will find a place on your employees’ calendar next year.