A summit meeting is an event that gathers influential leaders, members of a community, or other key stakeholders to discuss high-stakes topics that could impact their profession, industry, or cause. Typically, summits bring together people from different perspectives to create innovative ideas that disrupt old ways of thinking. Summit meetings are most effective when addressing a current crisis that has the potential to escalate into a public or political issue, or when there are signs of major shifts ahead.
While a summit can be helpful in terms of building trust, it can also be damaging to interstate relations if no tangible outcomes are reached. The failure to reach meaningful agreements is frequently blamed on the politicians who lead the meeting. However, it is important to consider the reasons why a summit may fail to reach its goals and how this can be avoided in future summits.
Organizing a successful summit requires careful planning. It’s essential to define your purpose, goals, and audience. The format of your summit can vary from keynote presentations to workshops and panel discussions. Ensure you balance informative content with opportunities for your attendees to interact and collaborate. For example, you can use Livestorm’s Handouts plugin to distribute downloadable materials during your virtual summit.
Once your summit is over, it’s vital to follow up with participants and provide them with resources that help them turn their new wisdom into smart strategy and executable next steps. You can do this by sharing a downloadable recap or summary of the event, or by inviting them to join your community.