Chapter: Participatory Conferences

Café conversation

PowerPoint presentations too often resemble a school play – very loud, very slow, and very simple.

If your words or images are not on point, making them dance in color won’t make them relevant.

Power corrupts, PowerPoint corrupts absolutely.

Edward Tufte, Yale Emeritus professor

Traditional conferences and meetings are too often death-by-Powerpoint. It need not be this way.

In this chapter, I take a look at some of the ways in which conferences and meetings can be made more conversational and participatory.

Conversational Environments

Strategic Conversations

Introduction: Participatory Conferences From audience to participants

The Unconference Conversational Conferences Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Conferences often involve long, boring presentations that disengage audiences. This “death by PowerPoint” approach fails to actively involve attendees in the learning process. With some creative planning, however, organizers can transform conferences into engaging, participatory experiences that energize audiences. In a conference presentation or … Continue reading Introduction: Participatory Conferences From audience to participants

Conversational Conferences In a conversational conference, the dominant style of presentation is the conversational talk

Introduction: Participatory Conferences Conversational Talks Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Most conferences are a series of PowerPoint talks interspersed by the occasional panel discussion. The audience has little time to ask questions, but they have no time to reflect or interact with each other besides during the coffee breaks or over lunch. Not … Continue reading Conversational Conferences In a conversational conference, the dominant style of presentation is the conversational talk

Conversational Talks How to give a conversational talk or presentation

Conversational Conferences Knowledge Cafés ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter In most talks or seminars, the audience is not allowed to discuss the presentation. This doesn’t have to be the case. Allotting a few minutes during the Q&A session for conversation can facilitate this. Conferences far too often rely heavily on standard lecture-style … Continue reading Conversational Talks How to give a conversational talk or presentation

Knowledge Cafés ** Include one or more Knowledge Cafés

Conversational Talks Conference Breakfasts and Dinners Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Include one or more Knowledge Cafés. Continue reading Knowledge Cafés ** Include one or more Knowledge Cafés

Conference Breakfasts and Dinners A great opportunity to network and build relationships

Knowledge Cafés ** Are There Any Questions? Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter So often at conferences, the organizers allow little time for conversation and networking. They feel they do not have the time to spare as they need to pack in so much content. But what about before and after the conference – … Continue reading Conference Breakfasts and Dinners A great opportunity to network and build relationships

Are There Any Questions? Q&A is not interaction

Conference Breakfasts and Dinners Peter Block’s Four Ownership Questions Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter At the end of each and every presentation at a conference, there is the obligatory question from the chairperson to the audience “Are there any questions?” There are many reasons why Q&As are not such a good idea. Why … Continue reading Are There Any Questions? Q&A is not interaction

Peter Block’s Four Ownership Questions Are you prepared to take responsibility for the learning and engagement of others?

Are There Any Questions? Let’s Get Rid of Lecterns Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter How many people at a conference or a workshop genuinely engage with the day and consider they are as much an owner and co-creator of the experience as the chairperson, speakers, and facilitators? And how many are happy to … Continue reading Peter Block’s Four Ownership Questions Are you prepared to take responsibility for the learning and engagement of others?

Let’s Get Rid of Lecterns The lectern is a barrier to connecting with your audience

Peter Block’s Four Ownership Questions People Tagging ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Why do we still use lecterns in meetings and at conferences? A lectern prevents you from engaging with your audience, I was at a conference a few years ago, and there was no lapel microphone available and no hand microphone – … Continue reading Let’s Get Rid of Lecterns The lectern is a barrier to connecting with your audience

People Tagging ** Inviting conversation

Let’s Get Rid of Lecterns The Unconference Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter “People Tagging” is a form of social tagging where people tag themselves. Each participant at a workshop or conference is given a self-sticky label on which they can write a word or short phrase that says something about themselves or their … Continue reading People Tagging ** Inviting conversation

The Unconference A conference organized, structured and led by the people attending it

People Tagging ** Introduction: Participatory Conferences Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Traditional conferences offer limited participant engagement, presenting a problem in fostering meaningful interactions. Unconferences provide a solution by enabling attendees to actively shape the agenda, leading to dynamic collaboration and enhanced learning opportunities. An unconference is a type of conference or gathering … Continue reading The Unconference A conference organized, structured and led by the people attending it

Conversational Environments

Strategic Conversations