Gathering in-person is more than an enjoyable experience … it’s productive, energizing, and important!
For many organizations, live, in person events are the highlight of their year. They get to see and communicate with other attendees they may not regularly see, there are fun, unique experiences, and they get to learn new things – not to mention how much fun these events can be!
Fun and games aside, gathering in person helps an organization come together and align on what matters most. Keep reading to learn our top five great reasons to gather …
- Access to Corporate Leadership
Whether you’re meeting with a dedicated group of employees, stockholders, investors, or the general public, one of the biggest draws of a live event is the opportunity to interact with corporate leadership.
While most people don’t get to interact with the leadership team on a regular basis, gathering in-person grants a direct line of communication. When attendees are not only able to hear directly from leadership, but also ask questions or even talk to the team in smaller settings, they’ll know that their voices are heard and matter.
Additionally, corporate leaders will get to know employees, stockholders, or other attendees on a more personal level, giving them additional insight into the day-to-day culture of their organization and how the company is perceived by both internal and external participants.
Pro Tip: In addition to hearing from the corporate leadership team during presentations or formal Q&A sessions, consider giving attendees additional opportunities to meet with or hear from attendees. Some creative ideas include …
- A live podcast from a VERY public location (an expo floor, lobby area, onsite restaurant, or sectioned hallway are great places to consider!) featuring a few leaders talking more in-depth about a specific topic
- A meet and greet where attendees are able to interact with leadership team members more casually, allowing everybody to have a more personal conversation and memorable experience
2. Team Building
It’s important for everybody who has a vested interest in your organization to know that we’re all on the same team! While not everybody will agree on each new initiative or aspect of the company’s future, everybody wants the same thing … to see the company succeed. Team building activities are a great way to reinforce that and bring everyone together.
Pro Tip: We have the best intentions with virtual team-building activities but they just don’t pack the same punch as doing it in person! Save team-building activities and events for in-person gatherings.
3. Restructuring and Process Development
Organizations are not static beings – they are constantly evolving to better fit the needs of their customers and stay on top of the latest trends and world events. As organizations evolve, their structures and processes need change as well.
While smaller organizational changes may be announced internally or externally through an email blast or newsletter, larger changes need to be communicated more thoroughly. From what the changes are, why they are taking place, what it will mean for the company, and how this will benefit the organization in the future, people will want the opportunity to react, ask questions, and make sure they fully understand the changes that are being communicated to them.
Pro Tip: Communicate large organizational changes or restructuring ahead of your in-person event, and use the event to dive into more detail. This will ensure that attendees have a basic understanding of the changes and will come prepared with questions.
4. Training
For internal audiences, gathering in person gives them the opportunity to learn through hands-on training, rather than watching a lecture on their computer. Educating employees face to face in smaller group sessions will result in a more engaged learning experience, increase understanding of any new information, and help them implement everything better down the line.
Pro Tip: Consider gamifying your training experience, or turning it into a team-building activity! After educational sessions are completed, allow teams to work together to prove their knowledge, whether it be through a hands-on tutorial, obstacle course, or a quiz with a prize.
5. Alignment
In order for an organization to be successful, everyone needs to be on the same page. Ensure that there is alignment across the board when it comes to messaging, culture, and important company updates. This will not only reduce any confusion the team may have, but also allow everybody to operate as a united front. Whether the audience is internal or external, you want to send a cohesive message about who you are as a company – and having everybody on the same page is the first step to doing just that.
Pro Tip: Utilize a combination of in-person and virtual breakouts. This will allow smaller groups that may have a specific job function or area of expertise to dive deeper into a specific subject and align on all necessary topics and goals.
There is no shortage of reasons to gather in-person. Organizations that regularly come together for an in-person event find that they’re teams and external shareholders feel like they are part of a greater community – and many add more meetings year after year!
At Encompass, we have unique backgrounds that situate us perfectly to produce high end and complex offerings. We’ve worked in broadcast television, touring entertainment, live sporting events, and countless convention facilities across the country.
We have technical design experience and a disciplined process in place that allows us to easily scale events and shift from in-person to virtual without angst. There isn’t much that’s beyond our scope and we love the intensity of putting on events!
If you’re a planner working to create an event, seeking help with virtual event technology, or simply want to learn more … we can help! Sign up below to receive our updates (we promise to keep your contact information secure and won’t “overshare”).