Speakers in 2022 Need A New Attitude

Three weeks into 2022 and my calendar is beginning to fill with events and projects again. How about you? It is a wonderful feeling as I begin to design my workshops for upcoming conferences like the Religious Education Congress to incorporate elements to engage attendees who will be in person and online. In fact the session I have been invited to present is titled "Building A Media Ministry at Your Parish".

Speakers heading back to stages have to step it up! Whatever you are teaching it has to be experiential and engaging for people to really walk away with a plan and tools to implement what they've learned. The days of focusing on the number of slides in a PowerPoint were on life support before the pandemic and now, let's just say it might be time to make final arrangements.

So what are the best ways to engage audiences for the next conference you are booked to speak at? It's cliche' but you really have to start with the end in mind or as Simon Sinek says, "What's the Why". Why are they sitting in your session vs. another one? At the end of the session what do they expect to learn? Whatever the "it" is they are there for - it's your job to provide them with more than mere theory. Share examples, tools and activities to execute or implement in class that day!

Here are my tips:

• Don't waste time talking about you in the beginning direct them to your website, social media or put it up on one of the few slides you will project during your session.
• Tell them to text or email themselves with things to follow-up on. Notes are great, but we all know after the conference is over they get buried under other stuff.
• Design activities that allow them to use their phones to interact in a session.
• If possible "Go Live" versus screenshots.
• Direct them to post what they are learning in your session on their social media. Free marketing that exhibits your expertise.
• Create mini videos that convey a concept that they can share with leadership.
• Share slogans that can be a mantra like "Design a new you in 2022?"

In the 90's there was a popular phrase, "If you don't know, you better ask somebody." With social media and other digital portals for communication it is easy to ask questions and get the answers you need to help you design a workshop that really provides attendees with what they need to create a plan for implementing changes or launch something new.

Joining social media or virtual groups that are specific to the industry you're in and the challenges and trends that have impacted how business is being done. The "great resignation" is emblematic of the shift of power in many workplaces, where the emphasis is more about the rank and file over the management. Hearing people share their real experiences and solutions provide great stories to share in your sessions.

Another phrase that resonates in this season of our lives is "Change is the only constant in life". In the last two years we have all been called to change constantly! Working in church ministry I have really had to change how things are done to engage our members and employ the talents of staff to create content.

The biggest change for me has been to focus on prayer about how and what to do in terms of accepting and adapting to the changes that I'm being faced with in my role. For so many there is this belief that things will return to how things used to be, so the need to learn how to do something in a new way is a waste of time and energy.

As things continue to change and we are at the beginning of a new year of possibilities embrace change and share what you have learned with audiences in a new way. If you are heading to the Religious Education Congress drop by my session to see what I mean.