Connection Before Content

Before the pandemic, live meetings were a great place to create trust. For most meetings and events one basic part of the agenda that lends itself to connecting before the content begins to be presented and discussed is the welcome reception. I am always amazed how this combination of food, a nice setting and a bar can begin to make a good meeting…great. Relationships are renewed, new friendships begin and employees or members get to know your leaders in a relaxed setting.

Our client’s leadership should not hunker down together. They need to become gracious hosts and hostesses and work the room. Having members of your audience meet one or more speakers in person ahead of time is powerful in driving personal connections.

To help develop these connections and trust virtually here are several ideas to consider:

• Certainty: The virtual conference, needs a logical information flow as it helps people predict what is coming next. Pre-event communications should include an agenda and background information to begin matching your audience’s expectations to what is about to occur.
  • Create a Net Information Gain of what information do you want your audience to know now that they don’t already know.
  • Create a Net Motivation Gain of how do you want your audience to feel after the virtual conference that they don’t already feel.
• Status: Make your audience feel important and make them feel comfortable so that when asked “who has any suggestions” your audience responds. When people feel comfortable and confident, they are more apt to speak up. Then their ideas, thoughts, questions and constructive criticisms flow – and that is when the golden nuggets flow. These nuggets can be the next great idea that helps make your organization a success in both big and little ways. Check out this video with ideas how to make this connection on your next virtual conference.

• Connection Tips: Recently a few days before a virtual conference that I signed up for I received an email from the President of the organization thanking me for signing up and asking if I wanted to have a 15 minute conversation after the virtual conference in the near future with him or any of the other organization’s leaders.
• Get on the virtual session early

Summary: The Face Value of Connecting before Content is that it opens up your audience to what you are presenting, and frees them up to create innovative, new ideas.