Is Your Event Actually Enriching Anyone?

In today’s information-saturated world, an event’s real value lies in its ability to enrich participants' lives meaningfully. I fully agree with recent insights from respected industry commentator Julius Solaris, who argues that the events industry has fundamentally shifted post-2019 and must evolve beyond the formulaic, often tired agenda, layout, and content structures we see time and again.

Solaris suggests that every event or conference must now be planned and operated as a modern media entity, blending online and offline channels to sustain engagement well beyond the physical event. Typically, without a well-thought-out content strategy, many events fall short, leading to audience dissatisfaction and declining interest. Robust content planning and ongoing digital engagement are now essential, and Solaris rightly points out that this shift is crucial to meet evolving audience expectations.

Social commentator and author Gurwinder Bhogal takes this further, introducing a concept he says we suffer from in the modern world called “intellectual obesity”—the overconsumption of trivial, low-value information that, which, just like unhealthy food, satisfies us in the short term but offers little proper nourishment. Bhogal likens our craving for “junk info” to our biological craving for sugar. Once an adaptive trait, he writes, our typical curiosity now leads us to consume massive amounts of trivial information, distracting rather than enriching us. This raises a fundamental question for the industry: are our events genuinely enriching or just delivering “junk info”?

If we want our events to rise above the intellectual noise, they must provide high-quality, intellectually nourishing experiences that foster growth, connection, and action.

Prioritising Quality Over Quantity

In today’s attention-deficient economy, organisers often feel compelled to pack schedules with numerous sessions covering a wide variety of topics. But without thoughtful curation, this can quickly overwhelm attendees, diluting the overall impact. Quality-focused events would benefit from a “less is more” philosophy, ensuring each session delivers actionable, valuable insights. Interactivity through workshops, panel discussions, and breakout sessions should also be carefully tailored to meet attendees’ needs, focusing on depth over breadth.

Becoming ?‘Information Nutritionists’

Organisers and speakers must start seeing themselves as information nutritionists, curating and offering content to meet specific intellectual and emotional needs. This includes resisting the urge to add motivational or junk news topics that may attract attention but offer little value. Instead, events should be crafted with a clear vision and purpose, where every session is part of a greater learning journey so that attendees leave with knowledge of genuine, long-term value.

Encouraging Meta-Awareness Among Attendees

Bhogal’s antidote to intellectual obesity centres on cultivating ‘meta-awareness’—an awareness of where our focus lies and the value we derive from the information we consume. Events can foster this awareness by including reflection breaks and encouraging speakers and participants alike to assess how content aligns with the event’s goals. A useful tool is the “10-10-10 rule,” which encourages attendees to consider how a session’s insights will impact them in ten minutes, ten months, and ten years. This reflective approach helps participants discern what’s truly worth retaining, making the overall experience more mindful and impactful.

Moving Beyond the Event: Creating an Intellectual Ecosystem

One event alone cannot fulfil all intellectual and emotional needs. Rather, organisers should aim for a continuous engagement model, delivering quality content before, during and post-event. I work with my conference clients on what I call a Fuel. Ignite. Accelerate process, which provides stimulating advance materials, curated reading lists, and regular post-event updates aligned with themes, reinforces key insights over time, creating an intellectual ecosystem that encourages steady, meaningful engagement rather than merely a deluge of information on the day.

Focusing on Community and Connection Over Content Saturation

Instead of simply overloading content, events must create spaces for genuine connections. Facilitated discussions, networking opportunities, and interactive formats allow relationships and learning to flourish. For instance, concluding sessions with small group discussions rather than a traditional Q&A session enables attendees to digest insights and share perspectives, transforming the event from a passive experience into an active, communal one that fosters growth and a sense of shared journey.

Measuring Enrichment Through Feedback Loops

To genuinely enhance future events, organisers need meaningful feedback loops. Feedback should go beyond surface-level satisfaction surveys and encourage attendees to reflect on specific insights they gained and plan to apply. This deepens the attendee experience and guides organisers in refining future events to be even more impactful.

Designing Events for Enrichment, Not Overload

In today’s information overload age, designing events that nourish rather than overwhelm is essential. By focusing on quality, encouraging reflective engagement, and cultivating an environment that prioritises growth over mere consumption, events can better counteract the epidemic of intellectual obesity. This approach ensures attendees leave informed and transformed, equipped with valuable insights, meaningful connections, and a clear way forward.

The transition from intellectual “fast food” to intellectual nourishment may very well define the future relevance of the event industry. Events that transcend superficial content and genuinely enrich participants should set the standard, establishing themselves as defining touchpoints in an era where attention has become the ultimate currency.

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