Mood and motivation assumptions

The mood and motivation of a conference arises from the creation of an environment which reflects the significance of the conference, encourages appropriate participation and reinforces the existential aim and rational objectives of the event. Every event, no matter how dry, has some mood: this is not merely a matter of peaks and valleys. Sometimes it might be called "quiet resolve", "angry contention" or "unanticipated delight". The object is not to mark high points and low points, but rather to be aware of the interior relationship that the group as a whole is taking to the ongoing work. There is in many offices a "Friday afternoon" or "Saturday morning" mood, when anticipation of free time colours relationships. It is recognized that that is not the time to open a new agenda. In fact it is not the mood for starting a new agenda. Conference mood, like weekend mood, can be influenced, but it is not created. It is in the group, it is what the people have to work with.The mood of the group responds to many things, but the decision-making process is certainly a major one. A very negative, contentious mood in a group can often be a response to a decision-making process deemed offensively inappropriate. In such cases, mood cannot be dealt with directly; adaptation is needed in many arenas at the same time. On the other hand, authentic struggle in a group over issues which they must confront, or extreme jubilation over some victory can also result in moods difficult to manage, but which must be allowed to achieve the conference ends.

Mood manipulation of any kind is seen by some to be an invasion of privacy. People are however continually subjected to attempts at such manipulation in daily life. It is increasingly important both to be self-conscious of the conference mood and to address it in some way. At the same time, this activity is no secret. There are times when it is perfectly appropriate to describe to a group what is sensed the mood to be. On the whole, what is intended is enablement, not clandestine manipulation, in order to adequately honour the investment of participants in the event.