It’s time for us as meeting planners to start taking risks. Recently I attending Meeting Professional International’s conference “MeetDifferent” and the resounding message was that we should be risk takers.
But we rarely see it in meetings and conventions. Everyone wants to maintain the status quo – this is the way educational sessions are done and it is the way it will continue. We need to change it!
Not everyone learns in the same way. So continuing to have a speaking head at the front of the room with chairs in theatre style prohibits some people from learning. We need to maximize learning and incorporate new methods to help people.
The collective knowledge of the group is greater than the speaker. We need to tap into the collective knowledge of the attendees and learn from each other – which will provide greater learning than just listening to the speaker at the front.
Open your meeting up to new formats. There are other formats that encourage better discussions, networking, and learning. Open Space, Unconferences, World Cafe, Fishbowls – are all terms for alternative ways to meet.
It involves a risk. It is doing something different. And the results could be amazing. It’s time we tried.
Great post!! Loved reading it
Thanks Kristen!
I totally agree! Meetings are only productive if people speak up, especially to clarify something that has been said or even to challenge what has been said. Just sitting and listening is not what a meeting should be about.
You wrote:
“The collective knowledge of the group is greater than the speaker. We need to tap into the collective knowledge of the attendees and learn from each other – which will provide greater learning than just listening to the speaker at the front.”
I agree with this concept one hundred percent. The speaker is no Guru!
In my experience with meetings they were and are noting more than procrastination. Lets get on with the project and have less time wasting meetings.