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Slide Notes

Videoconferencing, online meetings, telepresence and other collaboration technology are gaining traction. Does that mean the in-person conference is obsolete?

No – not by a long way! But its role has changed. Some of the benefits of coming together for a conference can be achieved just as effectively in other ways, but that’s a good thing because you can focus on the things that make the conference experience special.

In this presentation, we look at ten trends affecting our professional and personal lives, and how conference organisers take advantage of them.
Good conference organisers adapt to these changes.
Great conference organisers embrace them and create transformational conference experiences.
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The Future of Conferences

Published on Nov 18, 2015

Videoconferencing, online meetings, telepresence and other collaboration technology are gaining traction. Does that mean the in-person conference is obsolete?

No – not by a long way! But its role has changed. Some of the benefits of coming together for a conference can be achieved just as effectively in other ways, but that’s a good thing because you can focus on the things that make the conference experience special.

In this presentation, we look at ten trends affecting our professional and personal lives, and how conference organisers take advantage of them. Good conference organisers adapt to these changes.

Great conference organisers embrace them and create transformational conference experiences.

GihanSpeaks.com

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PRESENTATION OUTLINE

1.

The Future of Conferences

Ten Things Great Conference Organisers Do Now
Videoconferencing, online meetings, telepresence and other collaboration technology are gaining traction. Does that mean the in-person conference is obsolete?

No – not by a long way! But its role has changed. Some of the benefits of coming together for a conference can be achieved just as effectively in other ways, but that’s a good thing because you can focus on the things that make the conference experience special.

In this presentation, we look at ten trends affecting our professional and personal lives, and how conference organisers take advantage of them.
Good conference organisers adapt to these changes.
Great conference organisers embrace them and create transformational conference experiences.
2.

1. From Networking to Connections

People have always attended conferences for the chance to connect and reconnect with peers and colleagues.

Good conference organisers already know the importance of creating spaces during the conference for networking and relationship building.

Great conference organisers facilitate this by expanding it to include connections with speakers and helping delegates connect before they arrive.
Photo by nan palmero
3.

2. From Promotion to Preparation

Don’t assume any real thinking by delegates only happens at the conference itself. Now, you can get them thinking well before they take their seats.

Good conference organisers use a variety of promotional tools – including speaker videos, e-mail bursts, social media, and in-person promotion.

Great conference organisers take this further by sparking conversations, seeding ideas, and building momentum for the sessions.
Photo by Johan G
4.

3. From Attending to Participating

Your audience mix is changing, with less than a third of them happy to just sit and listen to lecture-style presentations, as Baby Boomers have done in the past.

Good conference organisers also cater to Gen X attendees, who like group participation and facilitation.

Great conference organisers also cater to Millennials (Gen Y), who value individuality, social media, and technology seamlessly integrated into the conference experience.
Photo by AGoK
5.

4. From Information to Insights

People don’t need more information in their life, and they certainly don’t need to attend a conference to get the information they need.

Good conference organisers create programs that balance information with interaction, collaboration, and participation.

Great conference organisers find ways to capture insights in the moment, package them for future reference, and distribute them in bite-sized chunks.
Photo by bcymet
6.

5. From Energy to Flow

Managing delegates can be like herding cats, and one of your biggest challenges is keeping their attention, focus and energy.

Good conference organisers manage their delegates’ energy by arranging the program to balance action and reflection, listening and talking, education and entertainment.

Great conference organisers align everything with the conference theme, and help delegates flow through the conference, so they manage their own energy and achieve their own goals.
Photo by Patrick Goossens
7.

6. From Gadgets to Tools

Technology has the power to transform the entire conference experience, but only if it used effectively and not just a random collection of Bright Shiny Objects.

Good conference organisers use technology that replaces old techniques – such as a conference app, online session bookings, and downloadable resources.

Great conference organisers use technology that enhances and transforms the in-person experience, rather than just making it more efficient.
Photo by Tim Geers
8.

7. From Corridor Conversations to In-Session Collaboration

If so many delegates think the conversations they have outside the sessions are the most valuable part of the conference, why do you bother with the sessions?

Good conference organisers know the sessions are important, but only if they allow opportunities for participants to chat, contribute and collaborate.

Great conference organisers look beyond the list of delegates and tap into the extended community for conversation and collaboration.
Photo by jakerome
9.

8. From Skills to Shifts

There are so many channels available for learning new skills, and a conference isn’t usually near the top of the list.

Good conference organisers include some sessions for developing skills, and provide multiple streams to help participants self-select the most valuable sessions.

Great conference organisers focus on shifting thinking rather than teaching skills, and plan the program around ideas, mindsets, and inspiration for new ways of thinking.
Photo by Zach Dischner
10.

9. From Event to Journey

A conference shouldn’t just be a single event in a participant’s life; it’s one part of an engaging journey.

Good conference organisers show participants how to get more value from the conference material after they leave the room.

Great conference organisers create ways for participants themselves to keep the learning alive.
Photo by mksystem
11.

10. Online: From Substitute to Enhancement

Online collaboration tools can replace some of what happens at the conference. You can see that as a threat or an opportunity.

Good conference organisers create hybrid events by adding online components before and after the conference.

Great conference organisers treat the combination of online and in-person events as part of one continuous learning journey.
Photo by GotCredit
12.

Untitled Slide

I’m a conference keynote speaker, but when you book me, you get more than just a presentation!

I can help you implement some of the ideas here to improve the experience for your next conference.

Here are some of the most common ways I help conference organisers who book me:

- Additional online resources
- Post-conference modules to keep the learning alive
- Interviews with key people before the conference
- Advice on using Twitter
- Promotional videos and slide shows of my session
- A selection of articles and audio programs for use in your marketing and promotion
- And more – just ask!

More at GihanSpeaks.com.

Gihan Perera

Haiku Deck Pro User
http://GihanPerera.com