One of the most
nerve-wracking jobs to have in any corporation is to be in charge of
leadership conferences. It is a huge responsibility.
From your
business’s viewpoint, it is essential that your conferences
are successful. But it is also important that your participants feel
comfortable, enjoy themselves, and feel the even is worth their time.
If you want to hold successful leadership
conferences, here are some great tips:
* Plan ahead, and early. It is essential
that you set dates and reserve a location for your event at least a
year in advance. It is also a good idea if you have a lot of people
traveling from out of town to have blocks of hotel rooms reserved. By
planning ahead, you give your participants sufficient time to make
travel plans.
* Reward those who sign up early. You may
want to consider offering a discount to the registration fee, or a
gift. If you get most of your participants to pre-register, you will
have a better idea of how many people to expect at your conference.
* Create a theme. A theme will make your
leadership conference more interesting and creative. You can start
promoting your theme as soon as registration. Another great idea is to
mention the theme again on the confirmation letters that you send out.
* Plan various activities. Most of us learn
differently. Make sure that you use different means to convey your
messages. Some people learn by doing things, while others learn best by
listening or viewing.
You may want to consider lecture session, group
activities, and panel discussions. You can also set up workshops. Make
sure you also give sufficient time for your participants to visit the
different vendors that are coming.
* Pass out schedules early. By doing this
you will be able to encourage more participation. A great idea is to
mail out the activity schedules a few weeks before you hold the
conference.
This will give your participants enough time to read
through the schedule so they can choose what activities, workshops,
etc. that they want to attend.
* Double check technical equipment. It is a
great idea to do a run through before the event. That way you know that
all the microphones, computers, and other devices are functioning
properly. Make sure you have some technical support people around to
help in case any problems arise.
* Get your participants motivated. Start
your leadership conferences with something exciting or creative. The
final session should also help your participants feel like the
conference was worth heir time.
* Follow up. Send thank you letters to your
participants. This is a great opportunity to encourage them to come to
the next conference you hold. You can also ask for feedback.
* Have a back-up plan. It is always best to
prepare for the worst by having a plan B. There are some things that
you can’t control, such as weather, problems at your reserved
site, or sickness.
Discover more
about becoming a great leader at www.RaiseALeader.com
