The Art of Gathering

“When we gather, we often make the mistake of conflating category with purpose. We outsource our decisions and our assumptions about our gatherings to people, formats, and contexts that are not our own.” 

Purpose is one of the most fundamental aspects of a gathering, according to Parker. She insists that purpose is distinct from category, however. A label such as “business meeting” is far too general to get at what is unique, specific, and necessary about a particular organization’s gathering. Parker attributes many of the problems associated with ineffective meetings to a failure to identify a specific purpose and the assumption that pinpointing a category means the gathering will simply fall into place. She urges readers to put thought into developing a tailored purpose for every gathering.

“Gatherings that please everyone occur, but they rarely thrill. Gatherings that are willing to be alienating—which is different from being alienating—have a better chance to dazzle.” 

A key feature of a gathering’s purpose, and one which helps distinguish it from a mere category, is that it should be specific enough to be exclusive. The notion of a “networking event” may be wide enough to accommodate almost anyone, but Parker would expect it to lead to an ineffectual gathering. However, the more specific notion of a networking event for business leaders under 30 with interest in social justice excludes some individuals from participation but is more likely to lead to a meaningful gathering.