What you need to make that next conference or meeting pop

Confetti on Blue Background with text overlay Make Your Next Meeting Really Pop, Learn How Now by Rikki Goldenberg, Executive Leadership Coach, Career Coach

This post was originally shared in my semi-frequent Learn Something New(sletter). To never miss info like this, join the party! 🥳


I read a lot for my work. Partially because it sparks new techniques to try out with folks. Partially because it forces me to try new techniques out.

Every once in a while I read a book that really hits. This is the latest book that made me sit up and take notice.


-> For the person who runs events. 

-> For the person who handles office happy hours. 

-> For the person who’s launching their first (or fiftieth) multi-day retreat.


This one’s for you.


Have you ever taken a moment to pause, and ask yourself, WHY?

Why do we gather?

Why is this gathering important? You can give me the regular we gather so that our society doesn’t fall apart. Yeah yeah.

I’ve been to more “meet-ups”, networking events, conferences, zoom meetings than I’d care to repeat. You too?

So, if you’re looking to level-up your hangs, this one is for you.


Biggest whoa moment: Creating very real, authentic connections can have massive impact. Just take the 2001 Johns Hopkins study. It was found when members at a surgery took the time to introduce themselves, and discuss their concerns ahead of time… Well, the likelihood of complications and deaths fell by 35%. 35%. Just because they were able to know each other's names, and state of mind. Get chatting friends.


Put it into practice now: The first thing Parker shares is that you must create a strong, bold, purpose for an event. Go past the idea that it’s, “an offsite to get folks energized about next year’s goals.” What does that even mean?! What are you really trying to accomplish by having people gather? 

Get super clear on what the point is, and then let that guide you. Answering that question first will help you with all the other questions that come up with planning something. 


Start with WHY you’re gathering. Then let that lens take you through the rest of the questions.

Questions like…

  • How does each person serve that great purpose when it comes to the guest list? Should anyone actually not be invited?

  • Where should the event take place to serve that purpose? Is it going to be somewhere familiar? Or somewhere totally new?

  • What activities should we include that create space for that purpose?

  • How can we connect people in a way that gets us there, faster?

  • What do we want to get done before the event?

  • How can we close the event that honors that purpose?


It’s not new. This idea that we should act with more intention.

What’s hard is actually doing the dang thing.

If we know what we want to feel, we get clearer about how we want things to move. It’s frikking wild.
And if 2022 is getting away from you without getting really anything done… or if you’re trying to add more intention into your everyday life of human-ness… reach out.

Dive deeper:
Read the book yourself: The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters
Check out her courses and free downloads at her website: Priya Parker
Listen to her podcast: Together Apart


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