--- title: "Daily Buzz: A New Way to Think About Annual Meetings" id: "47928" type: "post" slug: "daily-buzz-a-new-way-to-think-about-annual-meetings" published_at: "2019-09-11T20:51:44+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T02:05:05+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/09/11/daily-buzz-a-new-way-to-think-about-annual-meetings/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/09/11/daily-buzz-a-new-way-to-think-about-annual-meetings.md" excerpt: "Feeling stuck on how to switch up this year’s conference? Try this way of thinking. Also: how to strengthen communication as a remote employee." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "conferences" - "event planning" - "meeting design" - "Meetings" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Daily Buzz: A New Way to Think About Annual Meetings Meeting planners are always looking for ways to provide new experiences at annual meetings, but creative thinking about such a well-established event can be challenging. One solve: [Lisa Block, writing on Velvet Chainsaw (opens in a new tab)](https://velvetchainsaw.com/2019/09/10/five-step-framework-for-effective-collaborative-design/) , says a five-step framework for brainstorming that her team developed helps them continually revamp and reinvent annual conferences: 1. **Identify****an attendee experience** to improve. 2. **Outline the type of emotional connection** you want guests to feel during the experience. 3. **Research how other meetings** have handled a similar experience. What went well, and what didn’t? 4. **Pinpoint potential obstacles** that could hinder successful implementation. 5. **Strategize tactics** that will bring the experience to life. “This isn’t about tweaking schedules, adjusting formats, or adding activations at your event,” Block says. “The framework puts the participant at the center and includes principles of design collaboration to help your team innovate and strive for continuous improvement.” ### Work From Home? Communicate Like a Champ > These are the 7 reasons why working from home can make you a better communicator [https://t.co/vfAgrRm7Uc (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/vfAgrRm7Uc) > > — Fast Company (@FastCompany) [September 11, 2019 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/FastCompany/status/1171726276664729600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Working remotely**can be an isolating experience. Because you miss out on in-person interactions, clear communication becomes more important than ever. “Nonverbal cues are an extremely crucial part of communication, yet remote employees don’t have the luxury of exhibiting body language. And since every interaction is verbal, you need to be judicious about the words you select,” [says Michael Adorno on Fast Company (opens in a new tab)](https://www.fastcompany.com/90401575/how-to-improve-your-communication-skills-and-work-remotely) . “This means being assertive. Yes, it may seem cold and blunt, or even perhaps entirely out of character. But you need to do this to help your onsite colleagues understand your needs, wants, and goals, so you can be an efficient and contributing member of the team.” Also: Don’t be afraid to overcommunicate. “Overcommunicating might seem unnatural,” he says. “But if you don’t overcommunicate as a remote employee, you can easily get lost in the shuffle of typical workflow.” ### Other Links of Note **Not every attendee has the same needs.** Nonprofit thought leader Beth Kanter shares [how to make accommodations (opens in a new tab)](http://www.bethkanter.org/trainer-notebook-coact/) for guests who are blind, have mobility issues, or have other disabilities. **Hosting an upcoming tradeshow?** [Trade Show News Network offers show-floor design tips (opens in a new tab)](https://www.tsnn.com/news/how-design-engaging-showfloor-event-technology) . **Ensuring your email list is up to date** [can improve open rates (opens in a new tab)](https://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2019/09/10/5-ways-to-increase-your-email-open-rates/) , says *Nonprofit Marketing Guide*, among other tips. (gustavofrazao/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Jeff Hsin](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) Tags: [#conferences](https://associationsnow.com/tag/conferences/) [#event planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-planning/) [#meeting design](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meeting-design/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoAshley Cobb Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/ashley-cobb-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoJenny Teeson, CHSE Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/jenny-teeson-chse-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoLakisha Woods, CAE Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/lakisha-woods-cae-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoKevin Hesser Shares His Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/kevin-hesser-shares-his-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2019%2F09%2F11%2Fdaily-buzz-a-new-way-to-think-about-annual-meetings%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !