Never go for a Virtual Year End event – Go Hybrid

Resist the temptation of virtual, instead opt for hybrid events.

Since the entire world has shifted to virtual modes of working, I’m sure you were planning your year-end presentation virtually as well. I’m here to tell you to not do that, and here’s why:

Did you know, research by molecular biologists states that our mind predicts boring information and disconnects with it immediately. This is the reason we usually don’t watch the same movie again, because our brain predicts the end result and loses interest. Now apply this example to your colleagues’ mindsets. From meetings, training, and conferences, to recruitments and sales presentation - everything was delivered via virtual platforms this year. People are exhausted from the same virtual layout. Once they hear about your annual key-note in a similar format, not only will they not look forward to it, they will not even engage with it from the beginning.

As we stated in our previous article, your annual key-note is something all your colleagues are waiting for. Can you really afford to reduce your chances of cultivating the new company narrative by losing interest right off the bat?

Furthermore, once your message is passed to your colleagues, it should form a heart to heart connection. And this connection is rarely, if ever, found in virtual platforms as employees are multitasking and checking emails, chatting on their phones or watching YouTube videos - all parallel to the virtual key-note. It is very rare for someone to be able to efficiently convey their message virtually when their colleagues are multi-tasking and treating it as yet another boring lecture.

To generate a strong connection, you need physical energy. Your virtual speech can at best be delivered as a recorded lecture that your audience watches and forgets the next day. However, you also need to feel goosebumps as a leader while you present. This feeling is only possible when you physically have people in front of you. You need a formally executed message including face-to-face responses, laughter and the real environment to have the content effectively resonate with the audience. A laptop screen can never replace the environment and ambience of a physical setting, and that feeling is exactly what you require to cultivate an actionable narrative.

While this is a challenge due to the COVID-19 pandemic where having people physically present in an enclosed space might be a challenge, we still suggest you go hybrid but “casual hybrid”. Now how would you achieve this elusive “casual hybrid”?

It’s simple! You can have your key-note outside your office, in a parking lot, or at your factory ground with people sitting on the roofs of their cars, similar to a drive-in theatre. Invite 50 to 100 people to be physically present outside (following proper SOPs of course). Once you see the people, you will speak from your heart and surely have a strong connection. Their shouts, laughter, and feedback will accompany your message to your virtual audience and make them even more involved.

Just visualize it, and I’m sure you will be entranced yourself.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be sharing more content to better help you in getting ready for your annual keynote presentation. If you seek support in creating actionable engagement, please have a look at our comprehensive coverage of global events (links below) or connect with AIM Consulting. We would love to contribute and do our part in helping you deliver the best annual event for your organization.

AIM Consulting event coverages to support you in designing an actionable annual key-note:

Apple Key-Note Event Coverage: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/how-use-apples-event-become-presentation-guru-aly-ghazanfar/

Apple Key-Note video analysis: https://bit.ly/AIM_Apple_Analysis

3 Magics Leaders Must Learn: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/3-magics-aspiring-leaders-must-learn-from-iks-fii-aly-ghazanfar/

Imran Khan's speech analysis: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/imran-khan-analysis-3-recent-speeches-aly-ghazanfar/