6 Comments to “Meaningful meetings mini manifesto”

1. John Bell Says:
   

   November 26th, 2006 at 12:12 pm

   This is a great list and I am a bit self-conscious about offering up suggestions to someone so focused on meetings but I will try…

   15. Give them something to think about before arriving - not homework, per se - just prompt them to walk in with some ideas, concerns, pov that then gets them involved.

   This builds on your point about follow up and takeaways. I go to a lot of conferences. Too many at this point. The best ones always make me want to stay connected. Why aren’t meetings handled as one event in a ongoing social network…. Getting people to think about the topic as it relates to them ahead of time may cause more invested participants to show up and make for a more lively, interactive session.

2. Sue Pelletier Says:
   

   November 26th, 2006 at 3:00 pm

   That’s an excellent point, John! I know some session leaders are contacting participants ahead of time to check in on their hot-button topics, and using the feedback to shape the session itself. It asks a bit more of people than to just show up, but if we want real change to take place, we have to ask a bit more.

   Thanks for bringing this one up.

3. John Schulte Says:
   

   November 28th, 2006 at 12:54 pm

   Sue-

   Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this subject. I concur with what you have while also finding it interesting that you do not mention destinations or facilities at all. Your list covers who, what and how, but does not address where (at least directly). Was this intentional? Does this mean I’ll get to stop spending so much time on committee calls, trying to get consensus on a destination? (Maybe a manifesto on site selection will be next on the list!)

   Best regards,
   John

4. David Bloyd Says:
   

   November 28th, 2006 at 1:11 pm

   Love this list! Wish I’d had it when I started in the business almost 30 years ago(now retired)! Numbers 12 & 13 especially important (which I WAS taught back then)—tell ‘em when you’re going to start and finish each session, then DO it, and make sure that what happens is what you tell them will happen. It doesn’t take any more effort to show the attendees respect than it does to run the show as if it’s for your own purposes. After all, they’re the ones who paid for it!

5. Robin Wagganer Says:
   

   November 28th, 2006 at 4:53 pm

   Sue-
   Great list! The challenge I would add is to work WITH the audience. Too often we treat meetings as stand-alone or annual events and we have little contact with our attendees at other times throughout the year. While it is not necessarily the meeting planner’s job to maintain these relationships, we are in a position to know what else is being communicated and facilitate regular communications. This helps us develop better content and get to know what makes our audience tick on a personal level, allowing us to create events that can accomplish some of the items on your list.

6. Sue Pelletier Says:
   

   November 28th, 2006 at 5:48 pm

   John, you’re right, I should have included something about site selection (and room setup). Any ideas on what would make a good blanket statement along these lines? Maybe something like: Ensure that the destination, facility, and learning space will add to, not distract from, what you’re trying to accomplish.

   David: Rock on! I’m sorry to hear you’re retired—you obviously “get it.”

   Robin, this kind of follows the first John’s point, that planners need to work with attendees ahead of time. They also, as you point out, should keep that contact going throughout the year. Which is why I’m such a big fan of social networking software/sites, which are an easy way to do this, I think. Of course, not everyone will participate (let’s hark back to the “know your group” adage), but it’s one way to keep the content—and your next event—top of mind.

   Great feedback!

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