By: Beth Surmont, Head of Strategy & Design

How Adding Intention Designs Meaningful Connections

At a recent event, I decided to run a small experiment on myself.

It was a new community for me, and I specifically wanted to expand my network. So instead of choosing content by topic or speaker, I looked for sessions that were designed around connection. This was a challenge for me. I’m a very introverted person and I expected to feel drained at the end of each day.

I was surprised to find the opposite. What I learned is something I think every event organizer should pay attention to.

Safety Fosters Meaning

When we design permission into our sessions that allow people to go a bit deeper, we create the conditions for authentic connection that can go beyond the room.

First there was a fishbowl session, where a small group of us had a discussion around prompts, and the rest of the room was instructed to deeply listen. The facilitator asked a question that encouraged us to talk about a real challenge we were facing. It was not overly personal, but it did invite honesty. I shared something I had been struggling with, and instead of receiving surface-level feedback, I got thoughtful advice from people who were tasked to empathetically listen.

After the session ended, three of us decided to walk together to continue our conversation. We ended up discussing a range of challenges for a good 20 minutes. When we separated, we made a plan to reconnect in the next few weeks.

I’ve not really had an experience like that before. And it happened because the format was designed to create enough safety for a real connection to happen.

Keep it Simple

In another session, the speaker put up one slide with four questions. Each corner of the room was assigned a question, and we were told to move to the corner that matched the topic we most wanted to discuss.

The simplicity is what struck me. No table tents, signs, or sorting. One slide, four questions, and a clear way to start a conversation.

I had a great conversation in my corner. It gave me an idea for an event I am currently working on, and it ended with a plan to connect later for a mentoring conversation.

That is the kind of design I love because it is simple, useful, and easy to repeat. It did not require a large budget or an addition to the schedule. It could be built into almost any session as a quick energy boost, a moment of reflection, or a way to help people synthesize what they just heard.

I plan to borrow it for my next speaking session.

Making Connections Doesn’t Have to Be Draining, Even for Introverts

The biggest surprise for me was how energized I felt. I’m used to ending the day at a conference feeling exhausted and ready to escape to my room.

These sessions were different because they removed the anxiety, created value, and helped me contribute. Instead of several draining small talk conversations, I had a few meaningful interactions that gave me real advice, challenged my thinking, and shifted my perspective.

We know our audiences want connection and the answer isn’t more receptions. They need help to have better conversations. Prompts, structure, and permission all make it easier to find the people who are thinking about similar problems, asking similar questions, or seeing problems from a different angle.

When we design connection with intention, we make the event more valuable. We help people feel heard, useful, and find meaning. And they leave the event feeling excited instead of exhausted.

‍