This week, Debra Eckerling had a fun and engaging conversation with Bobbie Carlton of Innovation Women; John Chen, Engaging Virtual Meetings, and Phil Mershon, author of Unforgettable on GoalChatLive. The topic: Engaging Meetings.

Deb and her guests shared why they love events, how they got started in the event space, and much more. They also had a fun digression into event food.

Why People Love/Hate Events

- John: People hate useless, boring, non-effective meetings. They love getting back in touch with people, the value they receive at the meeting, and the magical moments that happen.

- Phil: People hate when they think that a meeting/event/workshop could have been an email. They do not like feeling forced into a situation. They love when goose-bump moments happen (more commonly in person than online). Create a space where people can get outside their comfort zone and be open to new ideas.

- John: People hate driving, traffic, parking.

- Bobbie: They love seeing people in real life, as well as the flexibility of online. Events help to nurture relationships.

What Makes a Meeting Successful

- Bobbie: The attendees believe there's something in it for them.

- Phil: A great event is designed for attendees to feel at home.

- John: In meetings, things should happen that can't happen on their own.

- Phil: Facilitating conversations and connections.

- John: You do not want distractions from your event. Fix things when you can, as soon as you can.

- Bobbie: Serve appropriate food and beverages.

Goals

- John: Give control to your attendees. Let people decide what they want to do: go to a session, network. They will make a choice that will make them happy and view your event as a success.

- Bobbie: If you are a speaker, make it easy for the audience to understand what your session is about. Be clear in your title and description; be creative, but don't get too creative

- Phil: Put time on your calendar immediately following the event when you can debrief and decide what you are going to do with that info.

Final Thoughts

- John: Want engagement? Engage your audience.

- Phil: Don't be afraid to be yourself. Be unforgettable.

- Bobbie: Be human. If you err on stage, keep going. No one will know.

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