News
-
Confesssions of a compulsive conference-goer
Thursday | Mar 9 2017
09 Mar 17: Hello From The Other Side!LIKE half of this country, I’m
going to Adele’s concert this
week and my guess is she’ll
kick off with her hit ‘Hello’, the
lyrics of which were on my
mind last week as I sat alone in
my office facing my computer
delivering a webinar to several
hundred people. “Hello from the
other side” I thought to myself
as I presented to a faceless,
voiceless audience somewhere
out there on the other side of
my virtual conference.
As a conference speaker, for
me it’s all about engaging with
my audience. A conference
presentation provides a
great opportunity to have a
conversation with them, to ask
them questions, to connect with
them and deliver key messages
through body language, voice
and eye contact.
Because of this “live”
opportunity to connect and
converse with my audience
simultaneously (in the same
room), I tend to shy away from
webinars. However, sometimes
they are necessary due to
remoteness of some audiences
or simple issues of time and
money.
But I confess I find webinars
super-tough. Not being able to
see or hear my audience makes
me ill at ease, out of my comfort
zone. Also I’ve been a webinar
audience member enough
times to know how common
it is to mute your computer
and multitask – eat your lunch,
check your emails, have a scroll
through Facebook….come on,
you’ve all done it, admit it.
So what can be done to make
it more likely that your webinar
audience will be engaged?
For me, it’s all about the
Question tab and the Audience
Polling functions, constantly
encouraging questions and
asking questions which require
a reply. And then answering
their questions immediately
rather than leaving Q & A till
the end. Its tricky talking whilst
keeping an eye on the side bar
for the questions, but it’s worth
persisting. I also always ask my
webinar audience to include
their name in the question so
I can be continually referring
to them by name, thereby
making it as personalised as
possible and minimising the
likelihood of them multitasking
or switching off. I also stand at
the computer while talking, I
find it gives my voice (my main
webinar engagement tool) more
energy. And of course – utilising
engaging photos and videos on
my slides as opposed to text
heavy, yawn inducing, Facebook
diverting slides.
Keen to hear any webinar
tips and tricks feedback from
Someone Like You (gratuitous
and appalling Adele reference
there). andrew@lunch.com.au -
Crumbs! 09 Mar 17
Thursday | Mar 9 2017INTERCONTINENTAL Sydney is marking its five-year partnership with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, involving a series of insider events this year.
-
A Taste of NZ in Aus
Thursday | Mar 9 2017TOURISM New Zealand (TNZ) is preparing to host events across Australia to promote its cuisine & conference offerings.
-
Get Global to offer new student program
Thursday | Mar 9 2017THE upcoming Get Global MICE event will offer on-the-job training for 12 students as part of a three-year partnership with the International College of Management, Sydney.
-
Mice foreign policy
Thursday | Mar 9 2017AUSTRALIA’S convention bureaux have mounted a campaign to put business events on the agenda at a diplomatic level.
-
Hilton Sydney’s new look
Thursday | Mar 9 2017HILTON Sydney this week unveiled a multi-million dollar refurbishment of its conference and meeting venues, hosting more than 300 corporate guests and industry identities at a showcase dinner.
-
Events women ‘bold for change’
Thursday | Mar 9 2017BUSINESS events leaders marked International Women’s Day yesterday at a breakfast hosted by the Exhibition and…
-
Hong Kong rewards
Thursday | Mar 9 2017MEETINGS and Exhibitions Hong Kong has enhanced its rewards program for events visitors, adding new privileges…
-
Ben on BEN 06 March 17: Emotional stages of job seeking
Monday | Mar 6 2017ALL job seekers go all through
the same emotional stages.
The fear of the unknown vs
the comfort of what is familiar
is a common struggle I see
daily. Employers need to
remember these stages to
appreciate what candidate’s
go through. 1. The decision
to change jobs. One of the
hardest stages as you have
to admit to yourself that the
time is here. 2. The search
itself. Job boards, recruiters &
networking is putting yourself
out there and marketing
yourself can be confronting. 3.
The waiting game. This can be
quite unnerving. Not hearing
anything is more frustrating
than a yes or a no. 4.
Interviewing. An emotionally
challenging time before,
during and after the meeting.
5. Job offer(s). The rewarding
stage that boosts your ego! 6.
Resignation. A leap of faith
that all will be well which
can be scary! Employers, put
yourself in their shoes when
interviewing and you’ll learn a
lot more about your potential
employees. -
Crumbs! 06 Mar 17
Monday | Mar 6 2017DONALD Trump’s hotel interests were back in the news on the weekend, this time because of a fire in the Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York City.
