Authentic connections made with respect paved the way for business getting done
The most important deliverable for a meeting is that everyone feels welcome. Everything else depends on that. Smart Meetings Inclusive Experience at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa this week started with the hospitality basics. The expansive property embraced the boutique group of top meeting professionals to offer an intimate setting for getting to know each other better in and out of the one-on-one meetings. As much as everyone was there to learn from their peers, hearing from subject matter experts helped to put everything in perspective and empowered all in attendance to become super connectors.
Love, Empathy and Respect
When the world feels hopelessly divided, the smallest gestures can make a big difference. Whether the playing field is national politics, a Southern California crime scene or a hotel contract negotiation, leading with love, empathy and respect is the fast track to building relationships across what might otherwise feel like unfathomable divides, according to keynote Corporal Ryan Tillman. As the founder of Breaking Barriers United and host of the #ItsNeeded podcast, the police officer, author and YouTube sensation has dedicated his career to advocating for equality and unity.
“In a society that often demands choosing sides, we need to return to the lost art of building relationships with those who differ from us,” he said to the meeting planners and suppliers gathered in the room.
His parting tip? It also helps to dance it out—and he left with everyone on their feet.
The Art of Small Talk
We may have good intentions for reaching out at cocktail parties, but starting a conversation requires taking a risk, and it is much easier to find the people we know and stick with them, or better yet, skip the meet-and-greet altogether. Author, keynote and communication expert Debra Fine used humor and insight to convince everyone that shaking hands and making introductions could actually be fun.
Learn More: What One Thing? Podcast with Debra Fine
She shared tips for asking questions that are open enough to invite conversation, but neutral enough to avoid embarrassment. She also offered tips on getting out the conversation gracefully, if needed. Some highlights that go beyond talking about the weather include:
- Offer the gift of your name and a nugget of information so they don’t have to panic about remembering and can choose whether to continue the line of conversation or not.
- Use the free conversation starters around you, like how many years they have been coming to the conference/destination or how they know the person hosting the event.
- What do you do when you aren’t at a conference or for fun?
- Catch me up on your job/family since I last saw you.
AV Gone Creative
Audiovisual could be a highlight of the conference if thought about creatively. Scott Frankel, president of Animatic Media, a Smart Meetings partner at the Inclusive Experience and the instructor for a special deep dive into AV contracting in the pre-conference education session, is an advocate of thinking differently. “Be creative—challenge your partners,” he advised.
Read More: 2023 Catalyst Awards
New technology trends to consider as a way to get your message across in a memorable way include:
- Mist Projection: Playing videos on a white screen may be the most obvious way to share information, but how about projecting onto a semi-transparent one or a continuous spray of mist that people walk through? This takes the logo off the wall and makes people notice.
- Robotic Video Walls: While still a little pricy and requiring sophisticated content development, the resulting programming will not be forgotten when parts of the presentation physically move in and out in a pre-programmed cycle.
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Select Shades Gifting Holographic Video: This has been coming for a while, but mixing live and holographic speakers, images and even drummers in interactive presentations can make people sit up and question what is real and what is recorded.
