The Importance of Gathering Design
- People often make the mistake of assuming that simply bringing people together in a space, whether physical or virtual, will automatically lead to meaningful connections and engagement. 3m10s
- Gatherings can often lead to feelings of loneliness and disconnection if there is a lack of intentional design and thought put into how people will interact and connect with each other. 4m31s
Priya Parker's Work on Gathering
- Priya Parker's work has shifted to focus on helping people understand that gatherings shape our lives and that gathering is a learnable skill. 1m51s
- Priya Parker believes that introverts make good gathering creators because they create the gatherings they wish existed. 33m56s
Examples of Gathering Design
- Amanda called her mother to ask what she would like to experience at their family gathering following the death of Amanda's grandmother. 6m14s
- Amanda asked her family to send her songs that bring them comfort and happiness, then played the songs as a Spotify playlist during the family gathering. 6m54s
- Adam, whose grandmother had also recently passed away, hosted a Zoom gathering for his family to share stories about her. 8m42s
The New York Times "Page One Meeting"
- Dean Baquet, an editor at the New York Times, changed a long-standing meeting called the "page one meeting" because it no longer served its original purpose. 12m30s
- The meeting had been taking place for 70 years and originally decided which seven articles would be featured on the front page of the newspaper. 12m39s
- Due to the rise of the internet and digital news sources, the meeting was restructured to include a broader range of staff and occur earlier in the day. 13m34s
Gathering Design in the Workplace
- Some organizations are using breakout rooms to synthetically create opportunities for connection that used to happen more naturally in the workplace. 17m22s
The Importance of the First 5% of a Gathering
- The first 5% of a gathering is the most important for creating a sense of belonging. 21m16s
- Using the chat box in online gatherings can help create psychological togetherness. 21m38s
The Importance of Purpose in Gatherings
- Gatherings that have a specific purpose allow attendees to feel useful and like they are part of something. 24m51s
- The purpose of a gathering should be determined even if it seems obvious, like with a staff meeting or a company anniversary. 27m13s
- The purpose of a gathering should be determined to avoid future conflicts, such as disagreements about the guest list. 26m47s
Choosing to Attend Gatherings
- People should be intentional about how often they attend gatherings and what they choose to attend. 28m43s
- People should practice saying either a "chosen/decisive yes" or a "connected no" when responding to invitations. 29m38s
- People should observe what is happening around them at gatherings and consider how they can elevate the experience for themselves and others. 30m43s
