Now a days everyone has access to smart devices and internet on just their fingertips. So, sometimes digital overload might be a problem in our workplace. Every day and night, on smart devices we’re bombarded with so many messages and alerts that even when we want to focus, we just cannot.
And by any chance you are standing In-front of a huge audience on a podium and addressing 1000’s of people and you start to realise that they are losing interest and start in engaging their mobile phone and are diverting themselves and are wandering their mind and thoughts into something else, How would you feel? It must be an awful feeling of embarrassing moments faced by anyone. But it’s not the fault of the speaker or the person on the podium as the new technology is taking a toll on us and we are becoming so addicted to it that staying without it is just not possible and it has become a big disruption is all our tasks and motives. Depending on the time of the session, the attention span could be as low as 8 seconds. People tend to get easily distracted by almost anything in an event. So, here is some advice from eventRAFT that can combat digital distraction at your event:
- What attendees want from an event
The main aim why people appear for an event is that they want something new, something different from what they have seen in the past.
They want to get never before seen, applicable information – an insider’s aspect at the topic. While they look for uniqueness in a session, the breakout session usually happens in half an hour. So, you have to give them something to look forward to. Most attendees look forward to an emotional connection to the event they attend. That’s how they take home ‘takeaways’.
- Connecting the gap between your attendees and you
Know more about attendees, what interests them Be more interactive in the sessions and talk to them about if they liked the session or want any changes or expected something else out of it.
- Topic shouldn’t be too easy or tough
If the topic is too easy, they will tune out, and reach out for their devices to bail out of the session. When it is too difficult, some try to focus for a few minutes before zoning out completely. Look out for audience reactions and the cues they unknowingly exhibit keep communicating with them and ask them to what they are expecting with the session and if they have some doubts or anything to be repeated.
- Performing followed by education
People attending your session should also be entertained and that entertainment has to be provided by you and it can be based on any topic or off topic but having a good time at the end is important so that the attendees don’t lose interest.
- Use props, & presentation
Making a little extra effort always goes a long way, if the topic of interest is lengthy and requires attention from the attendees then using props and presentation can really be helpful for the attendees as it will help them to gain interest back and not feel uninterested or distracted.
- The EVENT is about attendees
Starting the session by asking the attendees what they find interesting about the event and what inspired them to attend it. All the people attend the event for different reasons and knowing exactly what they want from the session makes it easier and makes the event successful.
- Conclusion:
To innovate and following the above strategies can help you to connect with your attendees and have a successful event and sessions that you take can be much more helpful and productive while having the attention of your attendees will give you the confidence that you need to have better sessions in the future.
