How many times have you picked up your phone today? Are you reading this on your phone right now? In today’s smartphone-saturated world, it seems like our heads are always bent toward our devices—even when we’re at important events.

Do event professionals stand a chance of grabbing the attention of phone-obsessed attendees?

There are several ways to approach this issue. On one hand, it’s smart to lean into new technology. “One way to deal with internet addiction is to use it to the benefit of your event and attendees by making the device part of the event,” says a recent post from the Event Manager Blog. “Adding gamification features like scavenger hunts to events can be a great way to encourage attendees to engage with the event whilst being prompted by their trusty black rectangle.”

On the other hand, your annual meetings are important, and if you need to ensure that attendees are paying attention, you may want to implement blackout zones. “Forcing attendees to switch off or leave their phones at the door is a bold move but can prove effective in the right environment,” says the post.

Feedback Guidance

Receiving feedback is one thing, working with it is another. @heresthecalvary shares how he works with feedback here: https://t.co/JnWLqRX9gz #assnchat #assnprofs #associations

— Sidecar (@sidecarglobal) November 28, 2017

We all want to be effective at our jobs, but working hard isn’t always enough to make an impact. Learning how to take criticism or rejection may be the best way to boost your capabilities.

“The best results come from being open to criticism of your ideas,” writes Brian Calvary in a post for Association Success. “We must all accept our own fallibility. Nobody is right 100 percent of the time, and that’s OK! My advice is to take your idea, sharpen it, and bring it back to the table with more information.”

If you’re suggesting changes that are consistently being rejected, Calvary recommends rethinking the timing of your requests. A “no” may mean “not yet.”

Other Links of Note

Google may have made it easier to donate to your organization. Just in time for #GivingTuesday, Google announced it is adding a “donate” button to the search results for some nonprofits.

You may already know that retaining donors is more valuable than acquiring new donors, but do you know why? The Bloomerang blog sheds light.

The end of the year is a good time to evaluate your internal tech landscape for inefficiencies. CMSWire shares how.

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