CX Demo

Blog

  • What Is a Breakout Session? [+ How To Plan Your Own]

    Having gone to many meetings, I can definitely say that I sometimes get overwhelmed. While I enjoy the content being discussed, I can feel tired and wish for a break to decompress before throwing my mind back into absorbing the information.
    I’m sure I’m not alone in these feelings, that many of us want to absorb all we can while still having the opportunity to temporarily disconnect and let our minds wander.
    What we’re looking for is a breakout session, where meeting hosts understand and accommodate for the need to take a break and specifically carve out time for them. This post will explain what a breakout session is, explain how to plan for a successful one, and present ideas that you can incorporate into your next meeting.

    These sessions are less structured than general meeting sessions, and typically allow attendees to participate instead of simply sitting in the audience and listening. While these sessions can be related to the overall meeting content, they can also focus on unrelated topics.
    Breakout sessions can happen during both in-person and virtual meetings. The former typically send attendees to different areas of a conference venue, and the latter use breakout room functions native to virtual conferencing tools. These sessions are especially important during virtual meetings, where there is already an element of built-in disconnection as attendees are in their own respective locations.
    Below we’ll go over some ideas that you can use to incorporate engaging breakout sessions into your upcoming meetings.
    Breakout Session Ideas
    There are various breakout sessions you can plan for, like those directly related to meeting content and others that are entertainment-focused and involve attendees playing games with each other.
    Lightning Talks
    Lightning talks are a great way to break up meeting sessions. They’re short so people can attend more than one, and a facilitator takes a set amount of time to give brief talks on a subject of their choice related to overall meeting content.
    However, lightning talks can also be adapted to allow facilitators to present on any topic they’re passionate about, helping attendees get to know more about each other and let their minds drift elsewhere before re-focusing on meetings.
    Speed Networking
    Speed networking breakout sessions allow attendees to meet each other and establish professional connections. You can divide people up, set expectations, and instruct participants to spend a set amount of time talking to one person and moving on to another once the time is up.
    Games
    Games can help participants let loose and de-stress, especially when they’re interactive and encourage engagement with others. These sessions are different from the other ideas on this list as they can be less related to meeting content than others.
    During in-person sessions, you can organize bingo games, team people up to solve puzzles, or even play charades. Virtual games are possible as well.
    Goal-setting Sessions
    Goal-setting sessions are great as they can encourage participants to think in-depth about meeting content in a relaxed setting where they can have conversations with others and express their thoughts. You can assign a facilitator to each breakout room, and they can initiate a conversation about general meeting content and encourage participants to relate the content to their desires.
    For example, suppose your larger meeting is focused on introducing a new business-wide workflow. In that case, attendees in these sessions can set goals surrounding what they want to accomplish with the new strategy over the next year.
    Ask Me Anything (AMA) Sessions
    AMA sessions are an excellent breakout idea, especially if you don’t have the chance to answer everyone’s questions.
    Participants can be separated into different rooms and groups and ask questions or express their thoughts about what has happened during the meeting, and an experienced facilitator can be there to answer them.
    Outdoor Activities
    Outdoor activities are best suited for in-person meetings where groups of participants can go outside together. They can be less content-focused and involve something like a scavenger hunt, but general breakout sessions can also be held outdoors to give participants a change of scenery.
    However, making use of an outdoor session during a virtual meeting can involve encouraging participants to log off for a few minutes, go outside, and come back and tell the group about something they saw while they were out there, or to share a photo of an item you asked them to find and identify outside.
    Open Mic Session
    Open mics are always exciting, and they can be great for encouraging engagement and giving attendees a moment to have fun and learn about their peers. Open mics can center around meeting content, like having service representatives share customer stories, or unrelated and attendees stand up and share a hidden talent.
    Drop-in Discussions
    Drop-in discussions are a great idea as you can schedule multiple different sessions for attendees to choose from. They’re also a low-pressure format for engaging in conversation and networking. People can navigate to a room where the content is related to their interest, and even pop-in to multiple sessions if they can’t decide.
    While this is not an exhaustive list of ideas, they can certainly be used to create and design engaging breakout sessions for your next meeting.
    Breakout Session Examples
    Below we’ll go over some real-life examples of breakout sessions that can serve as additional inspiration for your planning.
    Nonprofit Leadership Center
    The Nonprofit Leadership Center is an organization that supports other nonprofits. It hosts a yearly leadership conference that includes multiple breakout sessions led by industry leaders that attendees can choose from.
    A Breakout session from their 2020 conference, Courageous Conversations: Understanding & Confronting Unconscious Bias with Margarita Sarmiento, discussed how to create work environments that were inclusive and positive for all to be part of. The breakout session related to the overarching theme of the conference, which focused on leading courageously.
    Building On Our Momentum (BOOM)
    Mount Holyoke College hosts an annual diversity conference called Building On Our Momentum, where community members are encouraged to attend events and learn about diversity, equity, and inclusion in live talks and recorded content.
    The 2021 BOOM conference incorporates various breakout sessions to help attendees engage with content in smaller groups and decompress from hard-hitting topics that they may be learning about.
    One of the sessions, Tuesday Crafternoon: Zines, encourages attendees to get creative and create a zine while simultaneously learning about their history and use in marginalized communities.
    INBOUND
    INBOUND is HubSpot’s annual marketing conference that features a wide variety of opportunities, including breakout sessions. During these sessions, attendees can decompress, further engage with content, and connect with other participants.
    Meetup: Black at INBOUND, an INBOUND 2020 breakout session, created a safe space for Black attendees to meet other professionals, network, and discuss topics of interest.
    Breakout Session Template
    Given the benefits that they can provide, it’s essential to understand how to plan for, and lead, a successful breakout session. Let’s go over some tips.
    1. Set designated time frames.
    As breakout sessions are specific periods between main meeting sessions, it’s crucial to set specific time frames in which they will occur. Take note of the session’s activity, how long it will take, and aim to stick to that schedule.
    2. Set session goals.
    Breakout sessions that are specifically designed for attendees to decompress are great, but, regardless of intention, it’s essential to set goals, so participants know what to expect.
    Maybe it’s simply just to network and make conversation, but it could also be to outline personal goals. Letting people know what to expect helps you ensure that these sessions stay focused and attendees can accomplish everything within the desired time frame.
    3. Design seating to complement the breakout format.
    This tip is more related to in-person sessions, but essential nonetheless. It’s important to create seating arrangements and set up meeting spaces that complement and facilitate the session intent.
    For example, a room filled with round tables wouldn’t be conducive to a speed networking session where two people are in discussion with each other. Understand what you want participants to accomplish during the decision, and design a meeting space accordingly.
    4. Use the correct equipment.
    Using the right equipment is relevant to both in-person and virtual breakout sessions, as you’ll want to ensure you have everything you need ahead of time. For example, suppose you’re leading a breakout session game. In that case, you want to make sure that you have all the necessary materials to run the session smoothly, like enough pieces for all participants and printable instructions to refer to during the game.
    Having the right equipment is also important because these sessions are meant to help people decompress, so you don’t want to leave people waiting or stressed about what is about to happen, especially during virtual events.
    All in all, breakout sessions are valuable aspects of meetings, both virtual and in-person. They give attendees a chance to connect with other participants, think deeply about meeting content, and generally have fun and engaging conversations.
    Leverage the tips on this list when planning for your next meeting, and you’ll likely receive feedback from attendees that the sessions were engaging, exciting, and have inspired them to attend your next event.

  • Fixing Zoom calls: Looking better and feeling better

    It’s time to get serious about how we show up in remote meetings.

    For a year, we slogged through it, but it was exhausting. Not only did we feel lousy at the end of the day, but other people rarely saw us at our best.

    Now that it’s clear that the nature of work and meetings has changed forever, perhaps this is a good moment to embrace what’s possible.

    I’ve put together a rig in my office that is noteworthy for two reasons:

    I can be present in meetings with far less fatigue.
    My Zoom presence is significantly enhanced, which makes it easier to get my point across.

    Here’s a short sample.

    And here’s a photo of what it looks like from my side.

    Here’s how to do it.

    First! It’s free, it takes about one minute and will change the way you feel at the end of the day. In Zoom, find the button for HIDE SELF VIEW. (Here’s a link). What this means is that as in real life, you won’t be able to see yourself. It turns out that looking in the mirror all day wears us out. You’ll have to change the setting at the start of every meeting (this should be high on their list of things to fix) but it’s pretty easy.

    By hiding your face from your screen, you can focus more on everyone else in the meeting.

    Second, also free: rearrange your workspace so that light is not coming from behind you.

    The next steps cost more in setup and money, and I’ll cover them from easiest to most involved. Part of the magic of video meetings is that without a commute or fancy equipment beyond a phone or a laptop, people could join. But it’s become clear that it’s possible to deliver more fidelity and impact by investing in some tech.

    Just as we don’t hesitate to buy a new outfit for a big meeting, or pay $500 for a plane ticket, these are investments, and in the scheme of your career, they’re pretty reasonable–and your boss should pay for them:

    Get some LED lights. They’re incredibly cheap now (here’s a sample, but shop around.) Set them up to the left and right of your screen, a few feet behind it.

    Get an external DSLR camera and hook it up to your Mac or PC. This is a much bigger commitment, but the difference it makes is startling.

    You’ll need a camera, a tripod, and a capture box. Again, all three have alternatives, feel free to shop around. I use this capture box, but your mileage may vary. (And scroll down to the end of this post for a camera alternative)

    How it works: The camera goes on a tripod and sits just above and slightly behind your computer screen. The HDMI output goes to your capture box and then into your computer. In Zoom, change the camera from your computer to the camera. Done. It also pays to get a power cable for your camera so it doesn’t run out on you. (You can add a microphone while you’re at it).

    And then, there’s one last step, which has been the biggest leap for me since the self-view insight.

    When you look at the camera in a zoom call, you’re not looking at the person you’re talking with. You’re staring over their head if you’re looking at the camera, or, possibly, you’re looking at them, but it appears to them that you’re looking at your keyboard. Either way, there’s no eye to eye connection.

    This is unnatural. You’d freak out if you had a real life meeting with someone who never made eye contact. And it’s really tiring, because you end up spending your time not doing something humans evolved to do, which is look at each other.

    The alternative? A beam splitter.

    These are used for teleprompters. It’s basically a piece of fancy glass, at an angle, on top of a monitor or screen. Behind the glass is the camera.

    You can look directly at the glass, and the camera behind it, but instead of looking at the glass and the camera, what you’re actually looking at is the teleprompter or the stuff that’s on the screen.

    It’s magical.

    This setup is now far cheaper than I expected. Here’s a typical beamsplitter with hood and mount, and here’s a monitor that should fit with it. Total cost under $300.

    [or if you’ve already got a late-model iPhone or iPad along with a Mac, there’s a new app called Reincubate Camo, which is a much better product than the name implies. It allows you to skip buying an external camera and use the device tethered to your Mac instead. You’ll still need a tripod, still and you can probably make it work with the beamsplitter…]

    The entire setup, all of the things that I’ve listed above, comes to less than $1,000–less than half of that if you already have a camera or use Camo. If you go to a meeting a day, that’s a few dollars a meeting over the course of a year.

    It’s not for everyone, but if you are looking for the tools to be more productive, I hope it helps.

  • Discover All the Reasons to Attend Adobe Summit 2021

    As marketers, it’s in our nature to adapt quickly to our changing environment and to evolve our processes over time — sometimes even moment by moment. And as we kick off Summit 2021 in the shadow of one of the most unexpected and challenging years of our lives, it’s safe to say we’ve realized the full value of this quality, as well as our our community.
    On April 27–29, we’re thrilled to present you with an unmatched virtual Summit experience that’s completely free to attend. In addition to presentations and announcements from our Adobe leaders CEO Shantanu Narayen and Digital Experience EVP Anil Chakravarthy, hear from inspirational keynote guests like tennis superstar and entrepreneur Serena Williams, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, and many more.
    Discover the latest innovations and technologies from Adobe Labs during Sneaks, hosted by Emmy-winning writer, actor, and director Dan Levy. You can also develop new skills at our training workshops and choose from our Innovation Super Sessions for a deeper dive into the latest trends in CXM, including content, customer journey management, collaborative work management, and other key topics.
    We are so grateful for the time, thought, and effort invested by our incredible community of customers, partners, and developers. This year’s Summit is living proof of the innovation and evolution that happens in response to change, and it’s simply not to be missed — register now and stay tuned for more details and announcements to come.
    Click here to register for free.
    The post Discover All the Reasons to Attend Adobe Summit 2021 appeared first on Marketo Marketing Blog – Best Practices and Thought Leadership.

  • Discover All the Reasons to Attend Adobe Summit 2021

    As marketers, it’s in our nature to adapt quickly to our changing environment and to evolve our processes over time — sometimes even moment by moment. And as we kick off Summit 2021 in the shadow of one of the most unexpected and challenging years of our lives, it’s safe to say we’ve realized the full value of this quality, as well as our our community.
    On April 27–29, we’re thrilled to present you with an unmatched virtual Summit experience that’s completely free to attend. In addition to presentations and announcements from our Adobe leaders CEO Shantanu Narayen and Digital Experience EVP Anil Chakravarthy, hear from inspirational keynote guests like tennis superstar and entrepreneur Serena Williams, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, and many more.
    Discover the latest innovations and technologies from Adobe Labs during Sneaks, hosted by Emmy-winning writer, actor, and director Dan Levy. You can also develop new skills at our training workshops and choose from our Innovation Super Sessions for a deeper dive into the latest trends in CXM, including content, customer journey management, collaborative work management, and other key topics.
    We are so grateful for the time, thought, and effort invested by our incredible community of customers, partners, and developers. This year’s Summit is living proof of the innovation and evolution that happens in response to change, and it’s simply not to be missed — register now and stay tuned for more details and announcements to come.
    Click here to register for free.
    The post Discover All the Reasons to Attend Adobe Summit 2021 appeared first on Marketo Marketing Blog – Best Practices and Thought Leadership.

  • Discover All the Reasons to Attend Adobe Summit 2021

    As marketers, it’s in our nature to adapt quickly to our changing environment and to evolve our processes over time — sometimes even moment by moment. And as we kick off Summit 2021 in the shadow of one of the most unexpected and challenging years of our lives, it’s safe to say we’ve realized the full value of this quality, as well as our our community.
    On April 27–29, we’re thrilled to present you with an unmatched virtual Summit experience that’s completely free to attend. In addition to presentations and announcements from our Adobe leaders CEO Shantanu Narayen and Digital Experience EVP Anil Chakravarthy, hear from inspirational keynote guests like tennis superstar and entrepreneur Serena Williams, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, and many more.
    Discover the latest innovations and technologies from Adobe Labs during Sneaks, hosted by Emmy-winning writer, actor, and director Dan Levy. You can also develop new skills at our training workshops and choose from our Innovation Super Sessions for a deeper dive into the latest trends in CXM, including content, customer journey management, collaborative work management, and other key topics.
    We are so grateful for the time, thought, and effort invested by our incredible community of customers, partners, and developers. This year’s Summit is living proof of the innovation and evolution that happens in response to change, and it’s simply not to be missed — register now and stay tuned for more details and announcements to come.
    Click here to register for free.
    The post Discover All the Reasons to Attend Adobe Summit 2021 appeared first on Marketo Marketing Blog – Best Practices and Thought Leadership.

  • Discover All the Reasons to Attend Adobe Summit 2021

    As marketers, it’s in our nature to adapt quickly to our changing environment and to evolve our processes over time — sometimes even moment by moment. And as we kick off Summit 2021 in the shadow of one of the most unexpected and challenging years of our lives, it’s safe to say we’ve realized the full value of this quality, as well as our our community.
    On April 27–29, we’re thrilled to present you with an unmatched virtual Summit experience that’s completely free to attend. In addition to presentations and announcements from our Adobe leaders CEO Shantanu Narayen and Digital Experience EVP Anil Chakravarthy, hear from inspirational keynote guests like tennis superstar and entrepreneur Serena Williams, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, and many more.
    Discover the latest innovations and technologies from Adobe Labs during Sneaks, hosted by Emmy-winning writer, actor, and director Dan Levy. You can also develop new skills at our training workshops and choose from our Innovation Super Sessions for a deeper dive into the latest trends in CXM, including content, customer journey management, collaborative work management, and other key topics.
    We are so grateful for the time, thought, and effort invested by our incredible community of customers, partners, and developers. This year’s Summit is living proof of the innovation and evolution that happens in response to change, and it’s simply not to be missed — register now and stay tuned for more details and announcements to come.
    Click here to register for free.
    The post Discover All the Reasons to Attend Adobe Summit 2021 appeared first on Marketo Marketing Blog – Best Practices and Thought Leadership.

  • Discover All the Reasons to Attend Adobe Summit 2021

    As marketers, it’s in our nature to adapt quickly to our changing environment and to evolve our processes over time — sometimes even moment by moment. And as we kick off Summit 2021 in the shadow of one of the most unexpected and challenging years of our lives, it’s safe to say we’ve realized the full value of this quality, as well as our our community.
    On April 27–29, we’re thrilled to present you with an unmatched virtual Summit experience that’s completely free to attend. In addition to presentations and announcements from our Adobe leaders CEO Shantanu Narayen and Digital Experience EVP Anil Chakravarthy, hear from inspirational keynote guests like tennis superstar and entrepreneur Serena Williams, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, and many more.
    Discover the latest innovations and technologies from Adobe Labs during Sneaks, hosted by Emmy-winning writer, actor, and director Dan Levy. You can also develop new skills at our training workshops and choose from our Innovation Super Sessions for a deeper dive into the latest trends in CXM, including content, customer journey management, collaborative work management, and other key topics.
    We are so grateful for the time, thought, and effort invested by our incredible community of customers, partners, and developers. This year’s Summit is living proof of the innovation and evolution that happens in response to change, and it’s simply not to be missed — register now and stay tuned for more details and announcements to come.
    Click here to register for free.
    The post Discover All the Reasons to Attend Adobe Summit 2021 appeared first on Marketo Marketing Blog – Best Practices and Thought Leadership.

  • Discover All the Reasons to Attend Adobe Summit 2021

    As marketers, it’s in our nature to adapt quickly to our changing environment and to evolve our processes over time — sometimes even moment by moment. And as we kick off Summit 2021 in the shadow of one of the most unexpected and challenging years of our lives, it’s safe to say we’ve realized the full value of this quality, as well as our our community.
    On April 27–29, we’re thrilled to present you with an unmatched virtual Summit experience that’s completely free to attend. In addition to presentations and announcements from our Adobe leaders CEO Shantanu Narayen and Digital Experience EVP Anil Chakravarthy, hear from inspirational keynote guests like tennis superstar and entrepreneur Serena Williams, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, and many more.
    Discover the latest innovations and technologies from Adobe Labs during Sneaks, hosted by Emmy-winning writer, actor, and director Dan Levy. You can also develop new skills at our training workshops and choose from our Innovation Super Sessions for a deeper dive into the latest trends in CXM, including content, customer journey management, collaborative work management, and other key topics.
    We are so grateful for the time, thought, and effort invested by our incredible community of customers, partners, and developers. This year’s Summit is living proof of the innovation and evolution that happens in response to change, and it’s simply not to be missed — register now and stay tuned for more details and announcements to come.
    Click here to register for free.
    The post Discover All the Reasons to Attend Adobe Summit 2021 appeared first on Marketo Marketing Blog – Best Practices and Thought Leadership.

  • Discover All the Reasons to Attend Adobe Summit 2021

    As marketers, it’s in our nature to adapt quickly to our changing environment and to evolve our processes over time — sometimes even moment by moment. And as we kick off Summit 2021 in the shadow of one of the most unexpected and challenging years of our lives, it’s safe to say we’ve realized the full value of this quality, as well as our our community.
    On April 27–29, we’re thrilled to present you with an unmatched virtual Summit experience that’s completely free to attend. In addition to presentations and announcements from our Adobe leaders CEO Shantanu Narayen and Digital Experience EVP Anil Chakravarthy, hear from inspirational keynote guests like tennis superstar and entrepreneur Serena Williams, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, and many more.
    Discover the latest innovations and technologies from Adobe Labs during Sneaks, hosted by Emmy-winning writer, actor, and director Dan Levy. You can also develop new skills at our training workshops and choose from our Innovation Super Sessions for a deeper dive into the latest trends in CXM, including content, customer journey management, collaborative work management, and other key topics.
    We are so grateful for the time, thought, and effort invested by our incredible community of customers, partners, and developers. This year’s Summit is living proof of the innovation and evolution that happens in response to change, and it’s simply not to be missed — register now and stay tuned for more details and announcements to come.
    Click here to register for free.
    The post Discover All the Reasons to Attend Adobe Summit 2021 appeared first on Marketo Marketing Blog – Best Practices and Thought Leadership.

  • Discover All the Reasons to Attend Adobe Summit 2021

    As marketers, it’s in our nature to adapt quickly to our changing environment and to evolve our processes over time — sometimes even moment by moment. And as we kick off Summit 2021 in the shadow of one of the most unexpected and challenging years of our lives, it’s safe to say we’ve realized the full value of this quality, as well as our our community.
    On April 27–29, we’re thrilled to present you with an unmatched virtual Summit experience that’s completely free to attend. In addition to presentations and announcements from our Adobe leaders CEO Shantanu Narayen and Digital Experience EVP Anil Chakravarthy, hear from inspirational keynote guests like tennis superstar and entrepreneur Serena Williams, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, and many more.
    Discover the latest innovations and technologies from Adobe Labs during Sneaks, hosted by Emmy-winning writer, actor, and director Dan Levy. You can also develop new skills at our training workshops and choose from our Innovation Super Sessions for a deeper dive into the latest trends in CXM, including content, customer journey management, collaborative work management, and other key topics.
    We are so grateful for the time, thought, and effort invested by our incredible community of customers, partners, and developers. This year’s Summit is living proof of the innovation and evolution that happens in response to change, and it’s simply not to be missed — register now and stay tuned for more details and announcements to come.
    Click here to register for free.
    The post Discover All the Reasons to Attend Adobe Summit 2021 appeared first on Marketo Marketing Blog – Best Practices and Thought Leadership.