Every time there is a global shift – the financial crash of 2008, the fallout from 9/11, the pandemic of 2020, there is an opportunity as humanity evaluates what’s important, where should we be focusing? What’s important to me, my workplace, my business, my family, my people? Our perspective can shift, a little or a lot. What does this mean for events in the future?
In the moment, it’s easy to see perspective shifting, a change in our attitudes towards big banks, our caution in borrowing, or getting tied up in debt, our focus on recycling and reducing our use of single-use plastics, changes in our spending habits – fast fashion vs upcycled/recycled/pre-loved fashion. But after the moment has passed, and we click into “back to normal” as soon as we see the cues that we can behave as we always did, the moment for change has passed.
We have the opportunity, right now, to re-imagine how we gather together in a space, as people.
Events in the future
We know there are still global limitations around Covid-19. We have to respect the guidelines of whatever country we are in, but rather than feel limited, I’d love us to explore, together, the new possibilities for connection.
At Autumn Live we wholeheartedly know the one thing we are wired for is ‘Bringing people together for meaningful connection’
This runs through everything, if it’s a podcast recording, a gathering of a small group of creatives in a coffee shop, 70 people celebrating an office launch or 100s of people gathering to learn and connect in their workplace, we enable people to be together for meaningful connection.
But do we have to do it in the same way? Do we have to have the same constraints and familiar touch points as before? We are nonconformists, we like to shake things up, we like to explore beyond and seek out adventure. Can we use this in how we connect with others? And how can we help people feel safe?
Making other people feel comfortable
There is a huge space in between all the personal decisions we’ve made about our safety, the safety of our families and loved ones. We need to:
- Accept some people don’t want to gather in a physical space anymore
- Accept some people don’t want to travel to events or gatherings anymore
- Accept some people want to gather at every opportunity
- Accept some people only want to gather with people they know and trust
How do we enable events and gatherings in the future that can help people who fall into the different groups above?
How can we have meaningful connection online, if there are others connecting physically in the room?
We’d love to explore this with you.
Our thoughts:
Ensure there are plenty of ways (more than one) for those in the room to connect with those at the online version, not just leaving all the people to connect who are in the room, and all those who are online to connect together – that fosters a FOMO culture, where all the online people feel like they missed out. There has to be a cross connection between those at the physical event and the online group – some ideas for doing this:
- Connection tent
- App
- Game-ify the networking/connection part of the event – make it FUN
How can we not upset people who don’t want a handshake or avoid the awkward – are they coming in for a hug or a handshake I’m not sure?!
- Give really clear comms
- Wristbands/badging and a Code of Conduct agreement for people not to assume that everyone wants a handshake or a hug, so it’s really clear and there’s no awkwardness as people will be able to see if you’re a hugger / handshaker / or no physical contact
- Making it normal for people to choose, not teasing or ostracising those who want the highest level of safety (for whatever reason)
- Respecting others – no teasing or trying to change people’s decision, just respect it! They have spent a long time getting to that decision, and it may have been really hard to get there and we don’t know the personal journey they’ve taken to get there. We should be able to respect others’ decisions regarding their own and their families own safety.
A great example of this is the clip many of you will have seen of teachers who have a poster by their classroom door, and each child chooses how they want to be greeted on their way into the classroom. What’s the equivalent for entering an event – how can you communicate that you are listening, that you will respect their choices and you will enable them to be at ease?
How can we connect in person in a meaningful way?
- The questions we ask
- The number of people in the space
- As humans, I think we love to connect with others, though I personally think the pandemic has meant I want to connect deeply with a smaller number of people, in ways that feel safe e.g. outside, under cover, open with more space, not enclosed or small, we are looking for a wide open space to gather.
I’d like to imagine events and gatherings where all the people who participate feel welcomed, hosted and respected. That we have enabled their requirements for safety and connection have been recognised by us as the organisers or hosts.
I’d like to see great connectivity of hybrid events with both groups of people – those physically present and those present online – to connect meaningfully and with benefit to them.
At events in the future, I’d like to see smaller, more intimate, more productive events taking place, experiences that people want to share and treasure the memories from those experiences.
We’d love to speak to you if you want to enable people to gather together for meaningful connection. It’s what we love to do.
