Conferences can be dispiriting affairs that leave attendees stripped of motivation and inspiration. Sadly, that often happens in a traditional conference format where the vast majority are mere spectators, and the people they’re looking at (and listening to) do little to lift them to greater heights.
It’s a shame when this happens.
When done well, a conference can be an annual highlight that celebrates a winning company culture and inspires everyone who attends. Rather than coming away with hangovers and dodgy expense claims, attendees should leave a conference feeling ready to tear down concrete walls with their bare hands to help their company achieve its goals. Or something like that, anyway.
What is needed is a change of thinking in the way companies organise their conferences, and we’re pleased to say that many are now embracing new ideas and formats. They’re encouraging greater participation, so that more attendees feel they’re contributing rather than listening. They’re adding touches of fun and colour to the event. They’re moving away from the old “sit and listen” format, and towards activities and events within an event. How do we know this? Because we’re usually called upon to help make this sort of conference a reality.
We have a range of off the shelf and tailormade activities that an increasing number of corporations are incorporating into their conferences, as well as staff training days, corporate events, social events and Christmas functions. Many of them are very well known around Christchurch and include our hugely popular Top Team activity, which mimics the classic Top Town TV show by using giant games and activities that promote teamwork, communication, lateral thinking, and leadership.
Other things we do include racing car simulators, the Experience Christchurch Amazing Race which whisks attendees around the city with fun activities and challenges along the way, as well as the Indoor Team Challenge consisting of giant activities and challenges that test communication, leadership, lateral thinking and teamwork.
The activities we’ve just mentioned are off the shelf, but we can tailor them to suit any situation as well. However we do it, the goal is to break up the monotony of the traditional conference format and make it a more memorable and enjoyable event. There are other things we have seen that will achieve the same aim and they include:
Campfire sessions, where a group of people sit in a circular format, as if they’re gathering around a campfire. Sessions usually begin like a traditional presentation, with a speaker presenting an idea to a group of people. After 15 or 20 minutes, the focus shifts from the presenter to the audience with the floor opened for discussion.
Lightning talks, which are designed to eliminate long and boring conference speeches. Speakers are given a limited amount of time to have their say, and because their lightning talks are brief, the speaker must make their point succinctly and dump non-critical information. This will keep the attention of the audience and allow for a lot of ideas to be presented in a short amount of time.
Soapbox, which gives attendees a chance to be heard where a traditional format might not allow them that opportunity. Individuals submit proposals to participate and, if chosen, have a short time on stage to discuss an issue that is important to them. This works best when challenging views can be discussed freely, as well as the sharing of any projects or pieces of research likely to be of interest to the audience.
Braindates, a great way to share information and take away helpful knowledge from a conference. Delegates learn from one another through one-on-one or small group sessions (otherwise known as “dates”). Participants make offers and requests for knowledge on topics of interest and are then matched together with those who can provide that knowledge.
Your company conference should be an event that is looked forward to, and remembered long after it has concluded. By shaking up the conventional format, you’ll go a long way towards making it memorable, so a call to us should be one of the first things on your planning agenda.