Why Every Event Needs a Shepherd

One of the most frustrating things growing up on the farm was getting the 20 or so sheep from one paddock to another. You could spend so much time getting them to the gate, and they simply would not go through. They would stare at the gate, look at the luscious feed, go right next to the open gateway but just not step through.

They needed someone to show them the way. They needed a shepherd. Just like your events do.

I learnt very quickly that one of the best ways to get a bunch of sheep from one place to another was to quickly grab a sheep and throw it (in a very humane and safe way) through the open gate. Within an instant the rest of the sheep followed on their own accord. Often, they would jump over the imaginary barrier of the gateway as they did.

Ok, so maybe I’m not some all-wise shepherd tending the flock, but I knew what needed to happen and I knew how to influence the flock to go where it was of huge benefit to them, so they could enjoy a much better experience.

Events are the same.

I am not calling our delegates sheep, but they definitely need some guidance. A recent hybrid event I hosted had very little chat happening. There were some comments regarding some technical issues but that was about it. As the host, I would stare down the barrel of the camera and talk to them, asking them to put comments or questions in the chat. And even though they saw it and knew how to do it, they didn’t.

It was time to?(proverbially) throw the sheep.

During the presentation I jumped on the chat and started making some comments. More comments followed. More delegates started participating and then you could see the engagement with the event and the topic increase.

You need a shepherd at your event.

Get your team to post fun photos, videos, commentary, comments, chats, and anything else that comes up during the event. Have someone in each session commenting in the chat. It can be as simple as adding any internet links the speaker talks about or links to papers or research they are discussing.

Your shepherd will get your delegates through the gate to more engagement. This means they will enjoy the event more, their contacts will enjoy the event more and there will be an increased “buzz” at your event.

How many shepherds will you have at your next event?

Originally Published in Micenet

Warwick Merry is a Certified Speaking Professional, dual Certified Virtual Presenter, recipient of the 2021 Global Outstanding Intrapreneur Award, the 2022 Breakthrough Speaker Award and the 2022 Nevin Award for service to the speaking industry. For over 20 years he has been hosting and producing online, hybrid and in-person events. He is the host of the?Making Events Awesome?livestream and Facebook group.