First Thing
Opening an event means also opening minds to the whole occasion, so I like to understand the entire program – that way I can provide a ‘sneak preview’ of what’s to come. The opening keynote is also a great opportunity to set the mood and tone of the day and get a little audience interaction going, so that’s what I usually do with that timeslot.
Themes that work well here include:
- Change
- Mindset
- Openness
- Creativity
- Innovation
- Curiosity
- Connection
After Lunch
Between lunch and afternoon tea is the ‘dead zone’ of any event so this spot requires real energy and participation; this is when I use every trick in the book to fire up the room so whoever follows me has a living, breathing audience to work with.
Themes that work well here include:
- Creativity
- Innovation
- Play
- Opportunity
- Collaboration
- Culture
Last Thing (end of the first or last day)
The trick to this spot is to weave the key insights of the entire day [or days] into a clear and inspiring call to action – we’re about to storm the castle so it’s time for the odd bit of soaring oratory, with side serving of passion, hope, play and a little dry humour.
Themes that work well here include:
- Purpose
- Vision
- Culture
- Leadership
- Passion
Approximate Audience Size and Demographics
Working with a group of five is very different from performing before 5,000 so I like to know rough numbers before I make too many plans for a session. Although it’s always good to know the age/gender mix of any audience there’s usually more insights to be found in their background, especially their training/discipline; bankers are quite different from nurses and IT people are a breed all their own.
Who they are doesn’t tell me nearly as much as what they’ve been through.
It’s also useful to understand how they are positioned within their larger organisation/community. Do they represent different levels and divisions or are they a select group from one particular department?
[Multi-disciplinary groups are great for exploring broad, cultural issues, whereas specific work teams prefer to dig deep into their own, particular issues.]