A summit meeting, sometimes referred to as a “high-level” meeting, is an event where leaders or top managers come together in person to discuss important issues and find solutions. Summit meetings can be used to promote an idea, launch a new product or service, improve communication and teamwork, or provide leadership training.
Before any planning begins, the CEO or senior executive convening the meeting should set clear objectives for the summit. These should include a combination of goals like: bringing a realistic understanding of the current state of the company, such as its need for growth; rebuilding employees’ faith in the brand; preparing to embark on a cost-reduction program that would not adversely affect consumers; and ensuring that everyone understands what they need to do in the near and long term to fulfill those commitments.
Once these are determined, solid pre-meeting work clarifies the objectives, coordinates the content and initiates engagement with attendees. This will ensure that podium presentations, breakouts and interactive sessions are not only relevant to the meeting’s focus but also coordinated so that they form a cohesive whole.
In order to attract a diverse and engaged audience, it is also important to share information about the summit through email sequences, social media posts or industry publications. This will help participants make the decision to attend and will make it easier for them to justify the expense of travel and accommodation. Finally, it is advisable to consider collaborating with other organizations or influencers who can assist in promoting the summit to their networks.