Next week, thousands of innovative thinkers from all corners of the globe will converge in Washington, DC, for the 2013 TEDMED Conference. Kaiser Permanente will host a live-stream of the conference with innovative learning workshops at the Center for Total Health in partnership with the Innovation Learning Network (ILN) and the Kaiser Permanente Innovation Consultancy.
The ILN was founded in 2006 to “foster discussion on the methods and application of innovation/diffusion, ignite the transfer of ideas, and provide opportunities for inter-organizational collaboration.” With 33 member organizations, the ILN allows for collaboration and innovation across organizations and countries. They achieve this in part by using innovative event formats that allow attendees to build substantive, meaningful connections with one another.
“I can’t overstate the importance of these connections and friendships, especially in the sometimes lonely world of an innovator,” said Tim Rawson, Lead Designer for the ILN. “Having an active, participatory meeting generates much deeper and more significant connections than a traditional, lecture-based event. It allows people to leave as friends rather than professional acquaintances, to pick up the phone down the road and feel comfortable calling on one another for feedback, ideas, and favors.”
ILN techniques create these bonds by putting slight stress on the system of participants. Think of the last time you tried something completely new—maybe you felt a little silly, embarrassed, or perhaps struggled a bit. If you had a friend or family member sharing that experience, you probably felt a little closer to them afterward. The innovative formats and the mild (positive) stress they generate have the same impact on a meeting. Attendees not only learn just as much as they would in a traditional meeting, but perhaps more.
To follow the ILN-led events at the Center for Total Health next week, check back here for blog updates. You can also follow the conversation on twitter (@kptotalhealth) and with the hash tags #TEDMED and #kpcth.
