The best events – the most memorable, the most effective, the most fun – involve real people, engaging with each other and doing stuff together.
It is possible to do those online. At Rees McCann, we’ve demonstrated that over and over again, for events of all shapes and sizes.
Global gatherings; local consultations; company town halls; executive meetings; design workshops; training events; fundraisers; networking… it seems our Web Events That Connect methodology just works.
But far too many people still think that online events are always boring, because that’s been their real-life experience.
What if your boss is one of them? So when you suggest organising a highly-engaging online event, the idea gets knocked back as ‘too risky’?
Here’s how we approach this kind of challenge, using our Collaborative Influence Cycle.
First, pay attention. Listen to what they say they would like to happen. Notice, and acknowledge, what seems to be important to them, and what’s the focus of their attention.
Then, guide their attention with questions. In particular, ask about what they’d like to happen as a result of the event – both formal outputs, and informal outcomes. Ask about how they’ll know when they’ve got those things. Ask about resources available, and about constraints. (Using their exact words in your questions is a Jedi mind trick here.)
Propose your solution only once you’re confident that it really is a good fit. If the boss actually wants to involve real people, engaging with each other and doing stuff together, Web Events That Connect will be useful. If, on the other hand, the main purpose is to get a good recording of a speech to put on the company website, that’s a different matter.
Pay attention to the boss’s response, and iterate.
At Rees McCann we’re having this kind of conversation every day, as we find the organisations and situations where our services fit. We’re external consultants and this is our bread and butter, but we’re not ‘hard selling’, and we don’t recommend that you do so, either.
We find that when we listen, pay attention, ask more questions and then make an offer, we’re more likely to get the work than not. The Collaborative Influence Cycle just works.
- I’d love to know what happens when you try this out. Please comment below.
- If you – or the boss – would like to experience the Collaborative Influence Cycle first hand, please book a call with us.