Sounds like a blast @Marina - especially given how much Miro has grown over the last year, staff-wise.
In some respects, online events can be more engaging that in-person ones as there’s greater recognition upfront of the need to create a sense of community and to avoid turning it into “Death by PowerPoint” which often happens with in-person offsites.
Kiron
@Kiron Bondale there is something special about going to gallery view and seeing hundreds of faces as though they’re right next to you! That’s something you don’t get in person. Yes, it’s impossible to replicate the buzz of an in-person experience, but I love the reminder that this new format helps us connect with new opportunities.
This was my first day of my first Miro offsite and it was definitely engaging! My favorite part was seeing the way our featured customers use Miro. It was a great reminder to have FUN with our boards!
@Kiron Bondale, totally agree that it requires a great deal of prep work and planning to create that sense of community and make sure all meetings and events are interesting, engaging and (most importantly) valuable to people.
I am personally still in two minds about online events. While I enjoy online meetings and this feeling of structure and when almost everything is expected and planned, I still miss real people, I miss that instant interaction, laughs, cheers… Looking forward to meeting the team and our amazing community in-person one day
@Alexis Luscutoff, by the way, it was @Kiron Bondale who joined our 2020 summer offsite
The format was a bit different: we recorded the interview and showed it to the whole company in one of the sessions
Yes, the spontaneity may be a little less with online events. However, more people get more involved and engaged during these virtual offsites (IF properly planned and prepped) than in-person ones, in my opinion. I’ve had many in the past where people were simply there because “ooh, it’s a perk”, “air miles for me!” or “just turning up for the free food” :)
It’s all down to the level of planning and, of course, expert facilitation *ahem ahem*
Fair point, @Isman Tanuri