How do we get people to voluntarily join a meeting or an event?

So far we found it’s because

1. it solves (or might solve) a problem they face regularly
2. they feel they have or want to contribute to the discussion
3. there is a ‘celebrity’ to them or well-known speaker at the event
4. they want bragging rights i.e. ‘I was there when….’
5. FOMO – others are going and they don’t want to be left behind
6. FOMO (Control) – they worry a decision will be made without them

The first two are about learning and contribution, 3-5 are about status, and 6 is about control. Often we organise meetings and events thinking about the first two, but status is more often the motivating factors. Perhaps it’s just a fancy or more nuanced way of talking of peer pressure, but it still motivates us.

How can you work with status to enact change in your project?

Photo by Max Harlynking