I spoke yesterday to a group of coaches. It was, as always, a pleasure to have the opportunity to share my thinking on the digital revolution. But, the experience went beyond the simple spreading of ideas: I find that the group gives of an energy that I seldom find elsewhere. It is hard to put into words, but, as a group of seekers, there exists a reverence for the art of the possible. There is no sense of closed minds.
I don’t know about you, but even where the speaker at an event is absorbing and interesting, if the group has gone there with the wrong mindset, then no amount of hoopla will change the atmosphere – flat stays flat. It’s like the energy is sucked out of the room. Of course, as a speaker I recognise that it is arrogant to assume that people should come in any frame of mind; but, too often, I find people come with the wrong mindset.
Right now, and despite the drift towards cutting back on events, I still feel that getting people together with an avowed aim of making a difference offers something as powerful as any manifesto or published work. However, if all we do is repeat the format of yesteryear then we can’t be surprised if the outcomes are no different.
I think it behoves all speakers and event organisers to give much greater thought to the dynamic of the event. This doesn’t mean copying TED or the Do Lectures but instead trying to understand how to harness the energy of the group for the betterment of all.
What do you think?
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