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Washington 2009
iFIVE at SGTP EdCon ‘10: Agenda and Speakers
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“If You Don’t Make a Name for Yourself, Someone Else Will!” Do you know how to set yourself apart? Set yourself up for success? Guess what….your results DO NOT speak for themselves.
iFIVE is pleased to once again partner with SGTP (The Society of Government Travel Professionals) at their annual EdCon Conference. iFIVE’s session is September 7, 2010 from 2PM until 5PM at the Washington Hilton. The agenda includes lots of opportunities to network with travel professionals from across the country plus get up close to featured speakers Pam Mitchell, Director, Defense Travel Management Office, and Patrick Lafferty, Chief Marketing Officer of the Travel Channel.
And, as always, there will be an innovative professional development component to the agenda designed to help participants turbo-charge their success and increase their contributions to their organization.
“If You Don’t Make a Name for Yourself, Somenone Else Will” is not about overt self-promotion. What the iFIVE session is about is distinguishing yourself….developing an authentic personal presence….gaining influence so you can make the positive impact you want to make in your organization.
The iFIVE sessions have doubled in attendance at each suceeding SGTP conference. Space is limited so REGISTER NOW!
AGENDA
2:00PM – 2:30PM Up Close:
Structured networking with other participants and guest speakers
2:30PM – 2:40PM Opening
2:40PM – 3:00PM Pam Mitchell, Director, DTMO, on Leadership Brand
3:00PM – 3:45PM Professional Development:
iFIVE’s “If You Don’t Make a Name for Yourself, Someone Else Will!” Part 1
3:45PM – 4:15PM The “Make a Name for Yourself” Cafe
4:15PM – 4:30PM Professional Development:
iFIVE’s “If You Don’t Make a Name for yourself, Someone Else Will!” Part 2
4:30PM – 4:50PM Pat Lafferty, CMO, the Travel Channel, on Leadership Brand
4:50PM – 5:00PM Closing
5:00PM - 6:00PM More Networking at SGTP’s EdCon Opening Reception
Lots of people get invited to the party but not everyone gets to dance
As I was getting settled at my table in a Hilton Head Island restaurant years ago, the waitress said to me, “Did you pass Kim Basinger just now? She was sitting at this very table a few minutes ago.” I had not. But, being as curious (maybe more so) as the next person about celebrities, I asked, “Is she really beautiful?” “Honey, she said, “there’s girls that come in here everyday prettier than her.”
At that time I had no idea that one day I would head a PR firm and regularly work with celebrities and professional athletes. In fact, Kim Basinger and I crossed paths again. But, that is a story for another time.
In my executive coaching practice today, I am well of aware of a point the waitress was making back then. People get dream jobs even when they are not the best candidate.
Here are some reasons that are offered up by others when this happens – for why the “not as deserving” got the job.
- They are lucky – right place, right time
- They are very political
- They know someone
Each of those is true, but the labels are wrong. It’s a negative spin on what are usually powerful and positive attributes of the people who out-achieve other people with more talent and people who have delivered better results.
- Luck – sometimes it does just happen, but more often it’s the outcome of managing relationships
- Political – is better thought of as influential
- They know someone – is another name for never letting your network die (internal or external)
Your talent, your results are important, but they will not speak for themselves.
Does your organization like to wave?
I recently and reluctantly gave up my Mini-Cooper of 3 years. It was fun to drive. And, other Mini drivers would always wave to me. Risking rejection, I often even initiated the wave myself. Brave!
The other thing that happened regularly was strangers walking up to me in parking lots to ask me about the car – they just assumed I would be OK with that. I have not noticed that other cars have this dynamic going on – I mean do Jaguar drivers gleefully greet each other as they pass? Chevrolet? Ford trucks? No. There is definitely a Mini culture going on that sends out signals about the people who drive these little cars.
What I have noticed is that companies send out signals too. As a consultant and coach, I have worked with dozens of companies in multiple industries over the past 20 years. Mostly Fortune 500 companies, but start-ups, small and mid-size companies too. Companies signal their culture in a myriad of observable ways like how people dress, how they reward people, and the behavior of their people in general. I have also used tools and surveys to formally analyze business culture and create employment brands for a number of clients.
A few years ago, I worked with EarthLink on several projects over the course of more than 3 years. At the very first leadership development session I held with 20 of their managers, we all filled out our names on those tent cards so commonly used in meetings. EarthLink’s tent cards were uncommon. The signals it sent have stayed with me ever since. I scanned the original tent card and inserted it below.
I still feel like waving when I drive past their headquarters.
No reason to call? Call anyway.
I recently had a birthday, which was going well until my husband, John, showed me the day’s mail. “I hope this doesn’t ruin your day,” he said, as he handed me an envelope. It was one of those ominous envelopes with impressive seals, logos, etc. and lots of official looking language showing through the little window. From the clerk of the court here in town.
I thought to myself, well, let’s open it up and see how bad it is. Inside was a letter which essentially said, “It’s not always bad news when you hear from us. Have a great birthday!” No summons, no nothing but a wish for me. It was clever and funny and completely surprising. My view of the clerk of the court’s “brand” took a big upward turn.
It reminded me of a project that I once did for a CEO. He asked me to interview a dozen of his top customers. These top customers did not always do the same amount of business with him year in and year out and he was particularly interested in the kinds of “relationship activities” the customers would value and how this would affect the business flow.
Many of the customer executives said the same things to me in the interviews. They said that the annual conference and education the company provided were good. That going out to lunch now and then with their salesperson was fine. That knowing they could pick up the phone and reach the CEO personally was a good thing. But what would really set them apart, they said, would be if the salespeople called or came by now and then with absolutely no purpose but to say,”hello, how are you?” And with no attempt, no matter how subtle, to sell them something.
I don’t think many sales organizations factor this thinking into their productivity calculations. I have tried to put that feedback to work in my own consulting practice. I slip and backslide but I try.
This blog is generally about making work work for you. The number one thing you can do to make work work for you is to find the work that fits you. The number one thing that assures your sustained success is how you manage your relationships. Let the people who are crictical to your success or have been critical to your success in the past know you appreciate them – without asking them for something. It will surprise them because so few people do it.
5 Questions for Kelly Kuhn, President of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Military & Government Markets
Kelly Kuhn is president of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Military & Government markets, known in the marketplace as CWTSatoTravel, the travel division of Carlson responsible for soliciting and managing travel for U.S. military and government clients. Kuhn oversees all of CWTSatoTravel’s operations in the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific from her Washington, D.C., area office.
1. Best career move you ever made?
Accepting the job offer from my company to relocate from Chicago to Washington DC and be responsible for running our Military & Government business.
2. What is fun about you?
Most would say I am a social butterfly, love interacting with people and making sure everyone is comfortable and laughing.
3. Who, or what company do you think gets it right today?
As the biggest and best TMC in the world, I certainly believe that CWT gets it right – in the minds of our employees, customers and suppliers. Outside of our industry I would say Google – the power of information and innovation at everyone’s finger tips – extraordinary.
4. What is the best place you have ever visited?
There are so many….but, if I have to choose one it’s the place I always want to go back to – the Amalfi Coast, Italy. The people, the beaches, the coastline, the art, the love for life there is captivating. And, my significant other is a photographer so we have captured it all on canvas!
5. What is your superpower?
I have been told that I am very motivating to others, which is a huge compliment. I see my ultimate goals, both personally and professionally very clearly and can motivate others to help us get there.
iFIVE Executive Panel at cruise3sixty: Gender and Leadership Decision Making
Vickie Singer moderated a panel of leading industry executives at the recent cruise3sixty conference in Vancouver. The topic they tackled? Read More
Hold the Date! September 7th in Washington DC
Once again, iFIVE will be bringing our unique blend of professisonal development, networking and up-close interaction with top leaders to the annual EdCon conference: Tuesday, September 7, 2010, 2:30PM – 5:00PM. You can be sure that it will be an afternoon that is mind opening, fun and dedicated to helping you be successful. Watch this space for more information soon!
How well are you managing your strengths portfolio?
Given a choice, we will devote our energy at work to things we are both good at and enjoy doing. Things that play to our strengths. We don’t resent hard work when we are working hard at something that makes us feel good about ourselves.
For example, if you love analysis and are good at it, you will shut your office door, spend the day with your beloved reports, and feel great at the end of the day. If you are energized by counseling and advising others, you will take every opportunity to meet with people and feel quite fulfilled at day’s end, no matter how many people you have talked with that day.
But, what if the combination of what you like to do and what you are good at, is not called for very often in the job you have? It’s another way of saying that you are in a job that does not play to your strengths. This happens a lot. In fact, surveys show that most Americans believe that their work does not utilize their strengths. Interestingly, the surveys never ask “what are your strengths that are going unused?”
Here’s what happens over time when your strengths are not a fit to your work….
- You avoid doing the things you need to do in your job and try to insert what you like and are good at into your job even when it isn’t needed
- You ultimately pay a price by under performing, or you perform but end up burned-out, having health or relationship issues, and for sure, annoying your colleagues
Bottom line – you just don’t show up as well as you could.
So, examine your strengths allocation for a couple of weeks. First, define what you are good at and like to do. It’s not an “either”, it’s a “both” because you know you can be good at something even if you don’t like it. A strength is something you are good at AND like doing.
Figuring out your strengths may be the most challenging and valuable part of this exercise. Hint: don’t define more than 3.
Keep track of the time you are devoting to things that use your strengths. It’s the same principle that is used in dieting when you write down everything, yes everything, you eat and drink for a couple of weeks. The list always makes you think.
The head and the heart vs. the eyes and the ears
Years ago, I was in a meeting with a new Fortune 500 client. The meeting was chaired by the COO and the purpose of the gathering was for me to present the findings and recommendations from a study they had commissioned me to do. There were about 15 people present. I was the only outsider.
As I was presenting, the COO interrupted me with, “your body language is saying something quite different from what you are telling us.” This stopped me cold, not to mention scared me to death. I have never forgotten it and in fact, I later made it my business to understand this whole secret body language thing.
The COO remains a client today and whenever I mention this harrowing event, she always laughs and says she vaguely remembers the meeting but has no recollection of having told me that my body was contradicting my words. She does however, say that I need to remember that she subsequently hired me to do a number of large projects, so therefore (according to her), I must have handled the moment satisfactorily. Handled it!? I was desperately looking for a life line. I have no idea how I answered her.
Two truths emerge from this. The obvious one is that we really do not know how we are being perceived by others at any given time. We judge ourselves by what’s inside our heads or hearts, while others judge us with their eyes and ears. So, it pays to try and understand the message you are sending with your actions, your presence, your style, your tone, and so forth. I say “try” because truly seeing ourselves as others see us is pretty impossible. I was reminded of this brilliantly in an article in Psychology Today.
The other truth that emerges from this story is that career moments which seem like crashing oceans to us are often not even puddles to the others involved. So, while you may feel like a giant wave is rolling over your career, others may simply see it as a ripple. How you swim through it is what counts.
5 Questions for Debbie Maier, President of Mailpound.com
Debbie is President of MailPound.com, a marketing resource which provides travel agents with cutting edge tools designed to help grow their business. Her goal is to help travel suppliers connect with travel agents through education and effective tools to achieve success. What she is most passionate about is her family.
1. Best career move you ever made?
Deciding to work for our family business. I have been extremely fortunate to have the opportunity influence people, develop our brands, all without having to miss family events on a regular basis.
2. What is fun about you?
I love what I do! I truly enjoy the people I work with and the relationships that have formed. Plus, I can typically find humor in any situation. If it’s not fun, why do it?
3. Who, or what company do you think gets it right today?
Hopefully ours! LOL. Well, we are trying. Seriously I would have to say Apple. They are the leader in innovation. Industries have been created from their products.
4. What is the best place you have ever visited?
St. Barts. The beaches are absolutely beautiful! Plus, great memories riding around on a four wheeler exploring the island with my husband.
5. What is your superpower?
Cultivating relationships & partnerships. I am a tremendous believer in working together towards a common goal.
