Engaging Audiences in Conference Agenda Development

In today's dynamic professional development and knowledge exchange landscape, conferences can be critical hubs for innovation, networking, and learning. One of the keys to a successful conference is its content, and developing relevant content is crucially important. By involving prospective attendees in agenda development, we not only demonstrate the value we place on their input but also ensure the conference will address their real-time needs and interests, making for a truly impactful event.

It's becoming increasingly accepted that involving an audience at an event is an excellent way of harvesting the collective intelligence in the room. Conferences that involve a participatory dynamic, with audiences involved in real-time questioning, polling, and engagement with each other and speakers, avoid the mind-numbing 'Death by PowerPoint' style of merely preaching old-fashioned monologues from the stage into a darkened room. Taking this a stage further, it makes excellent sense to ask the prospective audience what they'd actually like to see, hear, and do at future events well in advance. The results are often surprising and informative.

Through participation, you will broaden or deepen an understanding of topics and be able to see fresh perspectives, helping to transform a standard conference into a much more impactful event. It also helps ensure that the areas covered are current and directly relevant to attendees' professional landscapes.

Increasing engagement and participation before, during, and after the event helps instil a greater and more valuable sense of relevance, belonging, investment, and commitment among participants. It also improves the audience's overall energy and enthusiasm during an event, leading to more enriched discussions and greater take-away value.

In my experience, audiences often express an interest in learning about issues and subjects which may seem different from the usual expected fare, yet it's important to consider how these might impact events that you are either working on or wish to attend.

Mental health and wellness are two topics that tend to crop up frequently on wish lists. As the importance of mental health is becoming increasingly recognised, conferences are now dedicating more sessions to wellness practices, stress management, and even social engagement than ever before. I recently attended an association's annual conference event that included, at the audience's request, a keynote session on understanding and dealing with menopause, which became the highest-ranked session on the post-event evaluation form.

Prospective audiences also frequently consider employee satisfaction issues. Dealing with burnout, boosting morale, and work-life balance are all hot topics right now.

Sustainability and corporate responsibility can also be significant. Audiences often would like to learn about and discuss sustainable practices, requesting more on topics such as green technologies and business strategies for more significant social impact, which clearly reflects growing environmental concerns.

I also hear a lot about the need for content on innovation and other disruptive issues. This includes the need to explore cutting-edge technologies and business models that might disrupt traditional industries and open new forms of value creation. As people begin to navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape, topics such as AI, machine learning, and digital marketing often appear as requests to be included on conference agendas. Sessions here might delve into the ethical implications, societal impacts, and innovative applications of AI and ML across sectors, but as in all of the above, every specific audience knows what it wants and will express this clearly if asked to do so.

Engaging with your audience in agenda development is now not merely a cool thing to do; it can help create a well-rounded platform that truly resonates with its participants and drives conversation forward meaningfully. After all, we should want every conference to have a walk-away proposition that includes elements which are not only informative but appropriately transformative.