🎈 3 Questions to Ask Attendees
When I emceed MPI Michigan's annual meeting on Mackinac Island, I shared three questions with guests during the opening ceremony. From this day forward, all my events will begin like this.
Thank you Jenn M. CMP and Mandi O. CMP for being the spark for this.
Your attendee experience is out of your control.
What predicts it the most?
How your attendees approach and treat each other.
You can nudge them to behave differently... but you cannot control how they socialize and build relationships with each other. This you must accept.
If your attendees are anti-social, you won't be able to change them... accept this.
But you can invite them to reflect. To reflect on how they can make the most of their experience. To reflect on how they want to show up at your meeting.
These three questions are the best way I know to shape how my attendees behave.
At the beginning of your event, you can ask your attendees these questions. You can invite them to choose how they want to show up. Watch what happens.
1. Will you take your time here for granted, or will you cherish your experience, your connections, your learning?
2. Will you be directed by your social autopilot, or will you approach the people around you with intentionality, empathy, and curiosity?
3. Will you be low-energy and uninterested, or will you be high-energy, enthusiastic, and positive?
Whether your emcee does it or you do it, there's a risk associated with this... some attendees may be thinking in their heads "This is weird."
Guess what. What's really weird is that event producers DON'T DO THIS.
They give up the opportunity to elevate their attendee experience, by positively influencing how their attendees socialize. The more positive, attentive, and grateful your attendees are, the more positive their experiences will be.
Let the norm of 'logistical welcome remarks' die. Replace it with these questions.
See what happens.
ps: Know another CMP or planner who is innovative like you? Share this with them. This newsletter is completely non-promotional and non-commercial. I write it out of passion for improving 'gathering norms' globally.
Above: Me at the Grand Hotel Michigan, using the questions.