Research indicates that the average concentration span of an event delegate is around 20-30 minutes. Keeping energy levels up and the audience fully involved in the event is therefore crucial to its success.

Many meetings and conferences are built on a ‘one way’ format (sometime also referred to as the ‘empty container model’). These are presentation heavy events that assume participants are empty knowledge vessels to be filled with wisdom. Instead, to create a truly effective meeting, a more dynamic approach should be adopted. Creating ‘learning events’ - encouraging ‘human co-flourishing’ which assumes each audience member possesses a brain rather than vacant space – can deliver great results through bringing the audience’s knowledge, resources and experiences into play.

So to keep your audience engaged and even contributing to the event consider:

• 30 minute presentations (the magic half hour) - followed by opportunity to reflect/discuss

• creative presentation formats and varied media

• making it memorable – unusual/different elements; surprise and delight the audience, do the unexpected, create laughter

• building energy and interaction – including Q&A, whether traditional or using the many forms of technology

• specialist workshops – interactive and a personal experience

• entertainment, energisers, ice breakers