3 Key Ingredients to Plan an Effective Conference
We’ve all been to a conference that felt like it was going to last forever. Those conferences that promise you life-changing lessons but you spend half the time wondering why you’re there and what else you could be doing with your time. We have good news: there’s a better way to plan a conference!
So if you’re on the other side, planning a gathering for like-minded groups to come together and create change, there are 3 key components to help you design your conference for success. This way, your attendees will spend that time actively engaging and leaning in together, instead of wasting away in heavily-air-conditioned hotel ballrooms.
An effective and engaging conference is the result of strategy and design. Creating a good conference experience for your attendees can positively impact their work and keep them returning to your conference year after year. But this requires providing them 3 specific experiences during their time with you.
#1 – Inspiration
Conferences should be inspiring. You want your attendees to feel encouraged in their own work and the impact they make in the world. When they leave inspired to take the tools you’ve given them and put them to use in their work, you energize them in different way.
Often one of the key sources of this inspiration is a guest speaker or keynote brought in specifically for this purpose. They should provide aspirational content that energetically unites the attendees around your cause.
#2 – Authentic Connection
One of our primary motivations as human beings is to be a part of something. By structuring your conference to create connections between attendees, you are broadening their network of peers and resources, as well satisfying their desire to belong. This increases their participation and investment at the conference as well.
For maximum participation and effect, this connection needs to be specific and facilitated. Think about facilitating group dialogue within sessions or creating opportunities for attendees to discuss specific topics. The organized and deliberate structure will open the activity up to everyone, including those who don’t see themselves as natural networkers.
#3 – Tangible + Implementable Tools
For your attendees to see value in spending their time with you, they need to leave empowered with specific tools that they can take back to their work to implement immediately. Bring the theory into practical terms.
When you are choosing speakers and crafting session content, ask your speakers to frame their content with specific tools and outcomes in mind. Their clarity on what they’re offering will help ensure that it comes across.
You want your attendees to come back year after year or spread the word about your conference, and the best motivation for that comes from feeling like their lives were improved by your conference content. Follow these guideposts, and your attendees will thank you for it.
Photos from #RealCollege Conference 2019 and UIA National Summit 2018
Do you need an event that engages attendees, inspires action and moves your mission forward? We can help you design an incredible conference experience. Reach out at hello@swaimstrategies.com or contact us here.
