Actividades: Here are six tips to help you get inspiration in your next sales convention and to lead an effective and energetic meeting: Choose a theme Select a theme for your event. It will set the tone of the event and mark the expectations of participants. The theme should be applied from beginning to end, in presentations, formats, content, entertainment, etc. Decide what message you want to transmit and what you want the meeting to accomplish. Also, be sure to introduce the theme early to ignite interest and anticipation. Grasp interest Salespeople are active employees, with initiative and used to taking risks. Make the attendants’ profile establish the tone of the whole event. The key: grasp their attention from the very beginning. Turn them into participants. Start off with some ice-breakers, and encourage team interaction. Avoid boredom Avoid boredom implies getting attendants to maintain their attention as long as possible. Try combining individual presentations with brainstorming activities in small groups and make attendants share their ideas to promote discussion. Recognise their achievements Make sure to use the convention as a way to recognise the attendants’ achievements. Throughout the meeting, find ways to acknowledge those who have achieved the best results. Use the sales convention as an event of motivation and celebration. Give it rhythm The quickest way to loose people's interest is to make meetings longer than expected. Give rhythm to the event, combine different formats (monologue and talk show, for example) and presentations (individual and in group); programme short breaks throughout the meeting (without attendants having to leave the room) to promote conversation among participants; introduce elements of surprise, etc. They'll be much less likely to zone out if they're eager to see what's coming next. Post-meeting follow-up The sales convention was a success! Attendance was high, participants were enthusiastic and involved, and a lot of valuable ideas were generated as a result of discussion among participants… Post-meeting follow-up is important to keep the meeting in attendants’ minds. Prepare a dossier with the meeting’s conclusions and all the interesting ideas which came up. Ask for audience feedback (use dynamic questionnaires following the same tone as in the event) and make attendants participate in the development of the next convention with their suggestions and opinions.