In a world of hybrid fatigue, disengaged teams and shrinking attention spans, events which make us feel alive give you a competitive advantage.
Whether you’re leading a global brand or scaling fast, your events need to do more than inform.
They need to ignite.
This golden question will make your events more impactful
How many times have you asked, “What’s on the agenda?”
Now try this instead:
“How do we want people to feel?”
Getting more business leaders to make the switch for this all-important question has become my latest obsession and something Mykel Dixon and I unpacked in our recent Gather Dynamics on LinkedIn.
The case for emotion comes down to three key elements.
- Engagement – When we lead with emotion, we design experiences that make us feel alive.
- Transformation – When people are engaged, they are open to change – and to being changed.
- Lasting impact – That transformation is the key to unlocking long-term strategic change in your business.
Scroll down to catch the full replay and read mine and Mykel’s top three tips to help you bring aliveness and impact into your event design.
Make emotion your north star
You know what? The numbers support this, too. Businesses with high engagement are 18% more productive and 23% more profitable compared with those with low engagement.*
Here are four strategic questions I ask when planning events. I return to them at each stage of delivery to ensure I’ve put emotion at the centre of my event.
- How do we want people to feel when they walk in?
- What energy do we want to build?
- What will they remember long after the last breakout?
- What inspired action do you want them to take?
Let those answers shape everything else.
*Source: Gallup’s Employee Engagement Assessment
Design moments that spark
As event leaders, we’re experience architects. Every rise, pause and peak is designed to move people. Here are four ways to bring that to life.
Build connection zones
Trade theatre-style rows for circles, clusters and unexpected mingling spaces. People connect when they see each other, not just on the screen.
Map the energy arc
Every event has its own rhythm. Use peaks, pauses and surprise transitions to keep the room alive and aligned.
Break the mould
Start with a song. Skip the post-lunch keynote. Throw out the default timeline and design a journey, not just a schedule.
Honour the pause
Even 30 seconds of silence can be transformative. It gives your message and your guests room to breathe.
Obsess over the details that make a difference
A full event-walkthrough is a must when I’m designing an event. Every touchpoint is intentionally designed to optimise engagement, and rigorously stress tested to ensure we don’t lose engagement. None of it is accidental. Nothing is left to chance. Here are three examples.
- A coffee cart on arrival grounds jet-lagged guests and signals warmth from the outset. Embrace the queue!
- A surprise creative task invites people to reconnect with their playful, human side.
- A generous break gives space for deeper conversation and real insight.
Forgettable or transformational? Your call
Your next offsite, summit or strategy day could be just another meeting.
Or it could be the spark that shifts your people and your business.
Watch the full Gather Dynamics replay below
🎶 P.S. Sound on at the end, – trust me.
Ready to flip the script?
I’d love to help. Send me a message with details of your event to talk more.