Since Ancient Greek times and even earlier, people have gathered from far and wide to fill rooms – and amphitheatres – to bare witness to the sage advice of the thought leaders of the day.
If you’ve got something interesting to say, perhaps you’ve written a book, invented a gadget or run for office, there’s a well established path in place to get you in front of a room full of people – all willing to schedule time, commute distances, even pay hard-earned cash and to applaud you on cue.
Room-filling works!
This ‘room-filling’ has proven to be a highly efficient, effective (and lucrative) way to disseminate information, transfer knowledge and to broadcast ideas. In modern times, industries have benefited from room-filling e.g. travel and hospitality, and new industries have formed e.g. event management and professional speaking.
All this is excellent for our economy and generates jobs and livelihoods for many people.
But things have changed, haven’t they
Now that the Internet is growing up and its awesome capabilities are unfolding, we find ourselves globally connected with information sharing muscles we didn’t know we’d have.
At our fingertips is the ever-increasing power to inform, share, shape, educate and inspire people around the world individually, and in groups. Yes, in groups. Almost daily, new innovations and technologies are facilitating and augmenting this power.
So why are thought-leaders still filling rooms?
It’s easy to see why industry leaders, speakers and pundits are keen to share their insights, predictions and recommendations about the post-Internet world of communication, technology and how to position yourself for maximum advantage.
It just seems ironic that they use the ancient method of room-filling to share this leading-edge information. It’s like putting a horse and buggy on a brand new railway track and hollering “Giddy-up!”
How about some really innovative leadership?
Why not share this information online using these social and state-of-the-art connection technologies before getting people together. Then use the face-to-face time – the ‘humans-pressing-together-in-a room’ time – to do the things that can only be done using such face-to-face forums.
For example:
- to touch and to hold each other;
- to participate in a physical demonstration;
- to share an experience simultaneously;
- to feel the group dynamics and pulse;
- to celebrate as a team.
Make room-filling the last thing you do, not the first thing.
Now is the time to get really innovative and maximise the on-line and off-line components of leader education. Use each channel where it can deliver maximum advantage.
This is a space that has yet to be filled.
This is an opportunity for truly original thinking and bold leadership – just like the Ancient Greeks demonstrated so many times, so long ago! 
What’s your opinion?
- How do you think room-filling is best used?
- What do you see is the role of room-filling in this post-Internet world?
- What does it take to get you to participate in a room-filling event?
26 Responses to this post
December 3, 2009 at 7:42 pm |
Hello Robin,
I agree about the power to educate, inform, inspire and share online. For me, to establish genuine and lasting relationships, it’s also important to meet in person to establish rapport and trust. It’s said that 70+% of our communication is body language, which can be seen via webcam to some extent. I’ve been surprised to meet people in person after meeting them online first and they have a different accent from what I expected. This is the way things are going for sure.
December 4, 2009 at 8:32 pm |
Hi Frances, and thank-you for your comment.
To your point, there have been a number of people I have met with and spoken with at length on skype video, and I would really like to meet them and hang out with them in real life.
There IS no replacing genuine face-to-face, heart-to-heart communication. It’s an entirely different mode of communication from on-line screen-to-screen sharing. As technology becomes more sophisticated it gives people more choices about how they can share information, depending on their goal.
The default position of ‘just invite them to a meeting in a room’ is starting to change. There have been far too many times in my career when I’ve seen good men and women shunted all over the country, and around the world, to meetings and get-togethers that were completely unnecessary given the objective, the result and the alternative screen-to-screen options.
Best to you, Robin
December 4, 2009 at 12:15 am |
Hello Robin,
You’ve captured the “high-tech/high-touch” meme that we all crave. So often, in this world of technology, the high-touch part gets given short shrift when, in actuality, where are we without it? For me, it doesn’t matter what field a person is in, if they are not first a person, it diminishes the quality of their work or study. On the other hand, the balance of tech and touch clearly has to be there in order to be at the top of one’s game these days.
): “I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think,” Socrates. Thank you for doing that!
What I especially appreciate about you, your tweets, and your blog is the willingness to put yourself out there and lead. Not one for quotes these day (overdose on twitter), I came across one that exemplifies your style of leadership, in my mind (no *blushing* allowed
Best Regards,
Kristina
December 4, 2009 at 8:23 pm |
Kristina,
Thank-you for adding your wisdom and encouragement. The tech-touch issue you raise is becoming increasingly important and I hope there is much more debate and discussion.
Balancing the dehumanizing potential of ‘tech without touch’ with the potentially debilitating inefficiencies of ‘touch without tech’ will be an ever expanding challenge – and opportunity.
I thoroughly enjoy our interaction and sense of fun,
best to you, Robin
December 4, 2009 at 5:37 am |
I have to disagree with you on this one. While I also think that social media/networking sites should be utilized effectively, there is still something about being in a room with someone that you want to hear talk. Because room-filling is more about just getting your ideas out there; it is about inspiring people. And if you are just getting the information to people via the web, then all they get is the information. But the way the presenter acts and carries themselves is what really sells ideas to people.
A blog that really illustrates my point is http://www.ted.com/. It is people with interesting ideas presenting them. This is also a good compromise of our two ideas: he gives the speech in person to people, but others are able to see it online.
December 4, 2009 at 8:09 pm |
Hi Greg, thanks for dropping by.
Yes, room-filling IS more than just getting your ideas out there; it IS about inspiring people. I totally agree with you.
So when room-filling becomes room-inspiring, room-exciting and even room-synergy, then it has more than fulfilled its purpose – and the incredible investment of people’s precious time, energy (and cash) in attending.
But when room-filling ends up being room-boring, room-tedium and room-data-dump, then it has failed miserably. It is in this situation that the online-based dissemination of information works best.
Thanks, Greg. Love that you shared your opinion and added value. And yes, TED is a fantastic example.
Shine on, Robin
December 4, 2009 at 5:39 pm |
As others have pointed out I think you underestimate how important non-verbal communication is for humans. Leaders are able to lead because of their great body language and voice tonality. Many leaders in fact don’t have that much to say, it’s just the package / presentation (ie non-verbals) are so good that they inspire people more through feeling than through logical argument.
I doubt Tony Robbins, Barack Obama, Richard Branson, Oprah Winfrey could have become popular just blogging and twittering. Only leaders can fill rooms and make people feel inspired through their non-verbal communication.
December 4, 2009 at 7:18 pm |
Hey Neil, thanks for contributing to this discussion.
Your point about non-verbal communication and it’s role in delivering a powerful and inspiring presentation is well made. Popular and inspiring speakers like Tony Robbins use non verbal communication to full advantage.
Using your example – having seen Tony Robbins live many times and on video many times, I would say the big difference is not so much the way he uses his non-verbal power, but in the atmosphere he creates.
At his live events there’s a buzz, a vibe, a pulse through the audience – like an emotional Mexican wave. It’s amazing, and very moving. I have never experienced this in his video-based presentations.
My point is not so much about replacing one mode of communication with the other, it’s about the more appropriate use of each. Too many times over the past few years I have attended events to see speakers distribute information using keynote speeches and projected slides, that offered no more value than an on-line video-based presentation.
Far better to distribute this information online and find a way to add more value to the ‘live’ event, especially given the improvements in speed and quality of web-based sharing.
On another note (excuse the pun) – you’re a guitarist! I play bass and couldn’t help but notice your enthusiasm for your guitar expressed on your blog. Great stuff!
Thanks, Neil. Shine on.
Robin
December 4, 2009 at 7:31 pm |
Hey Robin,
Totally agree with you there.
December 4, 2009 at 7:33 pm |
Good for you, Neil. It’s an important debate, and I appreciate you being a part of it.
December 5, 2009 at 12:06 pm |
Robin
Why am I only just discovering your blog now?! (I can think of a few reasons, including the wide rather than deep relationships I have online)
This is a great post (I think partly inspired by the magic being captured at #nscm right?) made even better by the comments above. My #bluehill has at its core a community of people who engage online before the magic happens offline, just like Coffee Mornings or any “tweetup” for that matter.
There’s some amazing energy being captured around online communities and I’m enjoying being immersed in it on a daily basis.
Speak soon,
Tony
December 22, 2009 at 7:37 pm |
Tony,
Fantastic connecting with you, and I’m looking forward very much to our collaboration. Your point about NSCM is right. Thank-you.
Best, Robin
December 7, 2009 at 11:38 am |
Face to face human interaction is still the best way of connecting with one another. Room filling requires trust and interest. The best tool for this is the internet social medium.
I believe we can learn more through physical interaction and our messages can be best grasped if expressed with emotion.
December 22, 2009 at 7:41 pm |
Thanks for your participation and comment, Walter. I agree wholeheartedly in the power of face-to-face communication to build trust and value.
Best to you, Robin
December 14, 2009 at 9:17 am |
Hi All
Been thinking this through long and hard. Robin challenged me on this over 6 weeks ago, and I’ve gone away and worked on resolutions.
The best point that Robin makes:
“Make room filling the last thing you do, not the first thing”
Exactly. The physical conference is ONE touch point in a series of touch points leading up to, during, and after the event. I’m writing a post on it at the moment, but what I will be saying is that a ‘conference’ is no longer defined by one point in time, space and matter.
What this also allows us to do is BREAK the 1950s model of Person-to-People. As Robin challenged me, why are we still disseminating information like this – and particularly in a fast-moving industry where one expert addressing a room of practitioners, near-experts and other experts does not impart the greatest value.
The greatest value is imparted, yes, through a person-to-people setup for visionary talk – but then to people-to-people set ups, where we flesh the bones with experience, frameworks, and most importantly, focus.
Robin, I’m gonna run this idea through the china shop!!!
December 22, 2009 at 7:38 pm |
Scott,
Obviously, after all you and I have discussed, you know where the heart of this message is. Thanks for your inspiration and leadership on this issue. I really appreciate it.
Talk soon.
Robin
December 22, 2009 at 8:29 pm |
LOL – Robin it’s great being a lab rat
December 22, 2009 at 8:32 pm |
Yes, eh, well…I’ll just say that science has its place!
December 28, 2009 at 11:13 am |
Robin,
You’ve really got me thinking with this, as has Scott especially with his comments about people-to-people communication.
So often I find I need time, practical application and then dialogue/sharing experiences to get the most from a great (inspiring/motivational/visionary) talk.
The classic conference round table isn’t always (ever?) enough for this; which is perhaps why so many conference experiences still fail to cross over to ‘real life’.
Sometimes we can focus so much on the event that we don’t think enough about the tribes which such gatherings can start and support and how we can can keep sharing our discoveries, learning and growing. A great conference sows seeds — but it takes more than this ensure a harvest and a delicious loaf of bread for our table (does that metaphor work?).
This dialogue has provoked me to challenge my own thinking on how I work with the franchise community and I find renewed commitment to act on some of the things I’ve long felt important. It’s not easy to create new models, but a worthwhile endeavour.
Thanks for a great post.
Kate
December 29, 2009 at 8:44 pm |
Thanks, Kate. You make a great and welcome addition to this discussion. The fact that you are prepared to revisit your assumptions around room-filling as an option for sharing information is very powerful. And yes, the metaphor works!
Make sure you check Scott’s blog. Like you, he’s a talented high-performer. It would be great for you to connect with him if you haven’t already.
Best, Robin
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