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How to ensure that your next company conference is a success
1. Don't forget
The word conference is used for ‘a meeting of people’. Such a gathering may involve only ten key staff from head office or it may involve a few hundred company employees from across the nation.
It really doesn’t matter because the steps to be followed in planning for the conference do not change - the conference is just cheaper and easier to organise with a small group.
2. Here's an idea
After the conference, evaluate the impact of the event. Participant assessments become guidelines for change and improvement at future conferences. Structure your questions to explore the following basics:
- Were the stated conference goals and objectives achieved?
- What was the actual value of the event? Was it worth the time, energy, and expense? Was there a beneficial effect?
- How effective were the work sessions - plenary sessions, groups, speakers, panelists?
- What was the participant satisfaction quotient - re: venue, program, social program, accommodation…?
3. Don't forget
For a highly successful in-house conference you should strive for:
- a plan that is outcomes-focused
- a design that adheres to the Goldilocks Principle of being ‘just right’ and culturally in sync
- tasks or topics that challenge, encourage, and inspire delegates to strive to reach new heights
- spot-on facilitation
- communications before, during, and after the conference that create an in …
