SAACI + SAEC

INDUSTRY VIEWS

Coming together

GLENTON DE KOCK is the CEO of the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI).

Identifying common experiences

Glenton de Kock shares his thoughts on why gathering people at a physical event seems to be so challenging.

As we roll towards the halfway mark of the calendar year, our common shared experience of attending in-person events is mirrored in many ways. Some have been comical, but many of us remain vigilant and mindful of the pandemic still hovering around us. On our ventures out to business meetings, trade fairs and exhibitions, we have witnessed how planners are adjusting as we all build personal confidence with our clients and delegates to venture away from our screens.

One immediate challenge, before we even say a word, is as simple as how we greet each other. While many of us in South Africa are huggers, we are still in a pandemic, and those awkward moments – initiating an elbow or fist bump followed by a laugh – are repeated during every occasion between colleagues.

START SMALL

Conversation starters and small talk seems a little rusty. Topics may be a challenge, as so much has happened, and we have all been affected so diversely. Our suggestion at SAACI is that one asks questions carefully and steers clear of asking how work is, as many of our colleagues have been severely challenged. Having a bank of conversation topics seems to be a good way to prepare when venturing out to an in-person event for the first time.

The most common and surprising behaviour returning to in-person business events has been the focus on our devices. Why, we ask, after two years of staring at a screen?

We all have a story to tell, and we all need a little light conversation with another person in our presence. Leave the devices for a few minutes and have a human interaction again.

Remember that we all have been affected differently, and our energy levels drop off when we attend in-person events. Feeling sluggish and fatigued is natural. Think of this like an athlete returning from a muscle injury; you want to walk before you run, or you might reinjure yourself.

Our recommendation is that you start out slowly, with smaller groups.