Conference audiences seek participation rather than entertainment from guest speakers. Plus: Gain more free time by reducing meetings.

The days of the silent audience are over.

Today, conference attendees are asking for a more interactive, learner-centric experience instead of lengthy lectures. Why speakers should act as facilitators, in today’s Social Media Roundup.

Let the Conference Speaker Be Your Guide

Conference Audiences To Speakers: It Is All About Me, Not You! #eventprofs #pcma http://t.co/0xBwCvTEip

— Jeff Hurt (@JeffHurt) November 11, 2013

Participation appreciation: When it’s time to tune into a keynote speaker, audience members are looking to be galvanized—not bored. Although learning about how the speaker has overcome past obstacles and achieved success is fascinating, the crowd is searching for tangible skills they can apply to their own careers. Jeff Hurt, executive vice president of education and engagement at Velvet Chainsaw Consulting, recommends shifting the spotlight from the speaker to the audience to produce a more constructive conference experience. “Attendee-emphasis and learner-centric conferences are more focused on what the participants are doing during education sessions instead of what speakers are saying,” he writes in a blog post. “Speakers act as facilitators engaging the audience [in] learning tasks. It’s not about attendees just copying down presenter examples or statements. It’s about them generating their own insights.” How do you create better learning opportunities during your conferences? (ht @JeffHurt)

You Can’t Meet With Us

I'd like to schedule a meeting to figure out how to have less meetings – http://t.co/7QP0zipZ17

— jasonfiske (@jasonfiske) November 12, 2013

Keeping minutes: If your Outlook Calendar reminders are overwhelming and you’re trying to find the time to complete your daily tasks, there may be too many meetings on your schedule. Laura Vanderkam, in her latest post for Fast Company, details six ways to reduce the number and length of office meetings. Her suggestions include thinking outside your calendar’s standard 30-minute and one-hour blocks in favor of shorter time slots and uninviting those who do not need to attend. While Robert’s Rules of Order aren’t necessary for every gathering, employees also want some sort of meeting structure so they feel their time isn’t wasted with a meeting that could have been a conversation by the water cooler. (ht @jasonfiske)

How can you minimize meetings and increase productivity in your office? Tell us in the comments.

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