This episode of Airmeet’s talk show series ‘The Expert Lounge’ titled, “The Future of Internal Events: Trends and Innovations for Engaging Employees”, explores a whole range of incredibly valuable insights around the trends and innovations in internal events.
This blog covers some of the key highlights from this immersive virtual live talk show where we engage with an expert who helps us decode the formula for successful employee engagement in today’s day and age with real-life success case studies and more.
The guest speaker for this episode was TJ Davis (Senior Project Manager, Corporate Communications, Maximus), where he interacted with moderators Prachi Kuchya (Manager, Events Marketing, Airmeet) and Ian Frazier (Customer Success Manager -Strategic Accounts, Airmeet).
Here are some of the takeaways from the talk show, to give you a glimpse into the wealth of information that was shared at the event. Make sure to read through till the end, where we share with you the recording from the event for you to take full advantage of.
7 Highlights From The Event
1. Impact of Internal Events on Maximus
Guest speaker TJ Davis from Maximus pointed out the massive impact of internal events on Maximus’ company culture, rooted in six core values – Accountability, Collaboration, Compassion, Customer focus, Innovation, and Respect.
These values are refined through extensive employee involvement via surveys and listening sessions, ensuring they rightfully reflect the values that Maximum stood for.
"We try to incorporate one to maybe all six of the values in all of the work that we do."
This integration creates a strong sense of inclusion and purpose among employees, thereby, increasing their engagement beyond mundane tasks.
Addressing internal events, Davis stressed upon collaboration and innovation, aiming to boost cross-departmental connections and foster creativity.
He highlighted the need to ensure active participation and accountability post-event, encouraging employees to use what they’ve learned and share it with their teams.
With such initiatives, Maximus maintains a vibrant company culture where values are not just articulated at a surface level, but actively shape employee experiences and contributions.
2. Future Evolution of Internal Events
TJ Davis forecasted a great shift in internal events over the next five years, pointing out the need to balance in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats.
“With remote and hybrid work booming, and as a global company with employees spread across multiple countries, it’s crucial to meet employees where and when they want to be met.”
Maximus has found that a blend of frequent short virtual events and occasional much longer in-person gatherings best maintains engagement.
“We’ve discovered that shorter, more frequent virtual events keep employees engaged throughout the year, while longer in-person events allow for essential human interaction.”
Additionally, he also highlighted the significance of flexibility and responsiveness to employee feedback.
This approach will ensure that internal events remain relevant and effective in a changing work landscape.
3. Future Event Innovations
Davis shared with the audience that internal speed networking is a key upcoming initiative designed to connect employees across different levels and departments globally.
"We want to ensure that employees have the chance to interact with colleagues from different departments, levels, and regions.”
By including speed networking into quarterly events, the goal for Maximum is to facilitate more inclusivity and connectivity within the company.
4. Incorporating Fun and Creativity
TJ Davis pointed out the importance of fun at Maximus, acknowledging it as the unofficial seventh value (apart from the six core values mentioned earlier), despite the focus on professional development.
“It’s figuring out how to add something fun to the day-to-day job, because we recognize that a lot of people spend so much time at work - and while the work that we do at Maximus is very important, we want our employees to actually enjoy their time here and the work that they are doing.”
Maximus organizes various internal events dedicated to fun like virtual speed networking and in-person activities like summer barbecues and Halloween events.
“These activities, while not directly tied to work, are crucial for maintaining a positive work environment and fostering creativity,”
5. Leveraging Technology for Virtual Events
In 2022, Maximus hosted its first large-scale virtual leadership conference, marking a significant shift from the traditional in-person format. TJ Davis, during the discussion, talked about the challenges of transitioning to a virtual setup.
To keep participants engaged and attentive during the virtual event, Maximus incorporated gamification elements. Davis explains,
“We introduced gamification by awarding points for active participation in chats, Q&As, and polls. People enjoyed the competition and found motivation in seeing how they ranked,”
This approach helped maintain interest and fostered friendly competition. By leveraging technology to track and reward engagement, Maximus effectively overcame the engagement-related challenges of virtual conferencing and enhanced the overall experience.
6. Best Practices for Virtual Events
Effective virtual events get benefits from careful pacing and variety. Avoid scheduling similar sessions back-to-back, to prevent monotony.
"One of the biggest best practices is to ensure a variety of session types throughout the event."
For example, start with interactive speed networking, follow with a webinar-style presentation, and conclude with a leadership development session.
This approach maintains engagement by alternating session types and incorporating breaks.
Using platforms like Airmeet can help in creating diverse session formats seamlessly, and ensure smooth transition between them, keeping participants attentive and engaged throughout the event.
7. Incorporating Recognition in Internal Events
At Maximus, recognition is integrated into both, small and large internal events to enhance employee engagement. For smaller events, TJ Davis highlighted the use of a leaderboard on Airmeet, where employees earn points for various activities.
"We ensure that at the end of the event, we highlight the top participants and thank them for their active engagement,"
This often includes sending a small prize or gift.
For larger events, Maximus goes a step further by presenting employees with gifts or sending gift cards for meals, if the event spans a full day.
Additionally, the company makes donations to local nonprofits in participants’ names as a gesture of appreciation. These practices ensure employees feel valued and recognized for their contributions.
Conclusion
These were some key takeaways from the event, which included some incredible tips on balancing virtual and in-person formats, integrating recognition and fun, leveraging technology for engagement, and employing best practices for employee engagement during virtual events.
If you’re looking to boost employee engagement and foster a dynamic work culture at your workplace, be sure to listen to the entire episode to unlock some practical, tried-and-tested tips on how to go about doing just that.
You can access the entire event here below.
