Incorporate Creativity into Virtual Events for Connection and Engagement

I have always been enthusiastic and a bit fanatical about creativity in the event space, and even more so now as I have attended dozens of virtual events and meetings through my computer screen. Creativity has not only lifted the meetings and events industry out of despair and into innovation, it is also what will help you continue to engage your clients in meaningful meetings that offer engagement and connection.

Here is my argument for incorporating creativity into your virtual meetings and events and some recommended partners that can help you do so.

 

We are all creative.

There are many definitions for creativity. In my work, I define creativity as the capacity to produce new and unique ideas. As human beings, we are all creative. It is in your DNA. Even if someone does not identify themselves as creative, the fact is — we are wired to create.

Therefore, when we use creative tools to train, teach or communicate — we are tapping into a capacity that we all have: sparking attention from everyone in the room. That attention might be enthusiasm or minor discomfort (for those who don’t consider themselves creative). Either way, you have caught the attention of your audience, moving them away from the complacency of just watching something happening on the screen. Creativity transforms an audience into participants. And as meeting planners, you know that participation is the key to engagement.

 

Creativity keeps people engaged.

Let’s look closer at the word "produce" in the above definition of creativity. This reflects an action, a verb, a level of involvement. The more you motivate people to activate their creativity, the better the outcome of any meeting or event. This can mean anything from engaging in ideation and thinking activities to hands-on creative work with tools and supplies.

We all know that for a successful online meeting or event, you cannot simply take content from your in-person meeting and apply it to a video call. It doesn’t translate well. Think about it. If you are in a room with 100 people, all 100 are influenced by what is happening within those four walls. Same environment, same distractions. When everyone is now in their own environment with hundreds of potential unique distractions, you need tools and techniques to keep people in the room with you — engaged in the content you are sharing or, even better, co-creating.

Creativity provides those tools. It’s pretty hard to lose focus when you’re asked to sketch your teammate, find ideas to solve problems in an on-screen photograph or collectively do the floss!

 

Connect through creativity.

Finally, what we all need now is more connection. Humans by nature thrive in community. In a virtual setting, when we provide people with the space and tools to connect — they will. As meeting and event planners, you are in the position to facilitate a deeper sense of relating. Designing a virtual event without allotting time for creative connection is a huge missed opportunity.

 

Planners who design programs with the goal of connection in mind, will always make a larger impact than those who don’t. So as you plan out the activities for a meeting — even creative activities, I urge you to ask yourself, "How is this helping to build connection?" There is a place for creativity that offers the value of having fun together, and there is a place for meaningful, creative activities that not only allow teams to have fun, but also offer the benefit of personal and professional development.

 

Recommended resources:

MURAL is a digital workspace for online collaboration. I use this tool for meetings and events as a place to gather, share ideas and network.

KeepWOL (Keep Wondering Outloud) is a verified, measurable and cost-effective tool to add to any event or meeting to quickly foster inclusion.

Mosaicli provides virtual team building activities through co-designing a creative mural.

My organization, worksmart, designs and facilitates meaningful team development programs that get people "thinking with their hands" through hands-on activities using LEGO® bricks, Play Doh and other arts and crafts supplies — while connecting to values, personal strengths and company mission.

Van Lai-DuMone actively works to rewrite the way we apply creativity in the workplace, instilling brave thinking in clients who are willing to disrupt traditional training methods. As the founder of worksmart, a progressive team and leadership development company, Van proposes that we are all innately curious and creative, therefore good ideas can come from any level of an organization. By cultivating idea sharing in the workplace, everyone has a chance to have their voice heard. And when that happens — company culture, performance and innovation can skyrocket!

Van studied psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara and earned her MBA from Pepperdine University. With over 15 years of corporate and startup experience, her clients include game changers such as Google, LinkedIn and MeUndies.