Disconnect and reconnect

Have you ever been ‘phubbed’ at an event? Maybe you have ‘phubbed’ someone else at a business meeting. In today’s modern world of smartphones, it’s more than likely that both have happened, sometimes without you even being aware. You see, the term ‘phubbing’ (a combination of ‘phone’ and ‘snub’) refers to being ignored by someone for his or her mobile device, and if we’re honest, most of us are guilty of it at times. These devices are clearly so much more than just a call-making instrument – some value their powerful mini-computer more than anything else – but does that benefit come at the cost of human interaction? Studies have shown that even just their presence can have a negative impact on ‘closeness, connection, and conversation quality’.

Using your mobile devices to channel all attention and energy into your event is the right strategy. You can turn your smartphone into you best all. Think about how you can incentivize a phone number exchange during a networking break. You can also invite your attendees to post trendy collages about your event on their Instagram accounts. Just get creative.

What can we do about it?

Some big name stars and event organizers have been working with technology teams to come up with a solution to this diversion from their product. Rock band Guns N’ Roses, American comedian Chris Rock and British singer-songwriter Adele, have all used in-concert tactics to prevent cell phone habits. These include all-out bans on devices that have photo or video capabilities , but this is not where we want to go in our meetings.

A disciplined technological solution, however, is not the only way to go about this. As event planners, arguably the best way to prevent distraction is to ensure that all the sessions are fully engaging. By immersing the attendees in what the well-chosen speaker has to say, no one will have any reason to look at their device. Create tempting breaks and include refreshing icebreakers to aid human connections. It is more likely that the hand will be used to point to an intriguing detail for discussion rather than go into their pocket for a self-contained disconnect.

Do we really want to switch off?

There are ways to reduce the dependency and desire for your attendees to drop their heads and gaze at their pocket-sized computer while at the event. But in an age where there are more and more opportunities to use these devices to enhance the experience. Do we really want to go down this route?

Mobile apps are proving invaluable to the modern event planner and so too are these incredible powerful tools for attendees. Presenters, for example, can engage directly with them using their phones or tablets, giving access to further content and convenient resources. Gamification is also an influential way to improve participation at an event and by doing so can increase human interaction. Let’s also not forget the value of in-built GPS, event information databases, note taking tools, and, possibly at the top of the list, the ability to share content on social media.

Mobile technology appears to be here to stay, so it’s a case of finding the right balance for any meeting or event you are planning. Embrace the appropriate opportunities to use the connectivity of these devices.