It’s really hard to think of a new way of doing something when you are busy doing things the same way you’ve always done them. Even if fresh ideas pop into your head, you don’t have time to nurture them and come up with ways to implement them successfully. The old ways continue to get reinforced as you talk with others in your industry and they share their “old ways” success stories. You know you want a higher ROI for your events and the attendees want unique events and value-packed experiences, but you start questioning whether it is at all possible.

Everyone wants new and unique ideas for meetings and events, but it takes boldness to actually implement them.  It takes courage and the willingness to be that explorer or adventurer who will stick their neck out and be the first to throw all the old maps away and create new ones as you go boldly where no one has gone before.

The good news is there are plenty of explorers and adventurers out there. They might be in different industries, but you are not alone. There are incredible and innovative events being designed every day by explorers just like you.  There are companies who have been born out of this same boldness and you can gain courage and learn a lot from them.  Simply read Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies,” and be inspired. How did the trendy eyewear company, Warby Parker, rise above the rest? They saw a need for lower cost eyewear and boldly decided to fill the void! They didn’t start with, “What are the other guys doing?”

So where do you start to create events that are unique and extraordinary? Here are 3 steps to begin your journey:

Throw out the old maps to create unique events

Don’t begin your planning with last year’s model. Bring your team together and start with a blank slate.  Start asking different questions. What does your attendee need? How can you boldly fill that void and create an event that delivers more than just a good time?  How might the attendee best get their needs met?

Keep the end in mind as you set sail in order to create unique events

If every decision is made around the attendee and how you can best deliver what they need, you will have an event that people flock to.  Let your attendees have a say before you begin your planning. Ask them more questions. Not just what they would like to see at the next event, since most people don’t know what they don’t know.  Ask questions like, “How do you best learn?” “What support would you need from us to help you implement this type of information back on your job after our kick off or learning event?” Making sure content is not only heard, but understood, and implemented back on the job is a great goal to have as you begin planning.  Keeping the end in mind will help you make decisions as you plan every piece of the event.

Study the habits of the natives (your attendees)

Study how and where your attendees are learning, other than your events. Today many are learning online. People are asking and sharing information on social networks, and they are used to getting answers immediately.  How can you implement some of this “immediate” and sharable learning to take place before during and after your event? Bring some of what you discover about the habits of your attendees into your events to make it easier for them to acclimate.

So as you begin to set sail into these uncharted waters to create unique and value-packed events, stay courageous, and know that the new world you discover will be filled with more satisfied attendees and a much higher ROI.

We are here to help you at every stage of your planning and would love to help you create that unique and value-packed event.  Click here to chat live with one of us now.