Why Do Some Events Make People Cold?

Imagine attending a conference for a few days. The first day is a solid 8 hours. You spend most of it sitting quietly and listening to speakers. It’s 4 p.m., and the day's final speaker is on stage.

How does your body feel? Cold, stiff, tired, hungry?

How does your mind feel? Tuned out, bored, drifting, annoyed?

This is volume 4 of the Things I Wish I Knew Then series (volumes 1, 2, and 3), where I share what I wish I'd known earlier in my career.

When I started giving presentations, I used the usual model. I lectured, and the audience took notes. But when I started talking about engagement, I wanted to walk the talk. So I tried more stories, which worked a little better. Then signed up for coaching on adult learning theory. I watched how really engaging speakers, musicians, and performers did what they did. I listened to members talk about how tired they were of the same sessions over and over again.

Now my programs look a lot different—they're much more lab-like. I share (or demonstrate) a new concept, pose a question, give participants a moment to think, and then invite them to start a dialogue.

I like to think that the people in my programs are fellow co-collaborators. They are participants, not attendees.

In co-collaborator mode, participants take the concept and adapt it to their context. They connect with other co-collaborators, may have a laugh or two, and may make a new friend in the process. Their brains are awake, thinking, planning, and learning.

In the co-creation mode:

• Webinars can become virtual workshops.

• Concurrent sessions can include roundtables.

• A keynote becomes a large-group facilitation.

How can you inject more participation into your events?