MPI Toronto Chapter Blog

Are You on (Google) Alert?

As many of us experience, we are often overwhelmed by news and information, and it is increasingly difficult to filter information for what we really need to know. That's why I use Google Alerts - so a daily email can provide me with headlines from around the internet on my 'keywords' of interest. A quick scan, a few clicks on the salient articles and I'm informed without being overwhelmed.

I've discovered great pieces of information and commentary on the meetings industry. A few recent examples include:

• A great commentary by Mitchell Beer on the Shape of the Meetings Industry (http://meetingsnet.com/corporatemeetingsincentives/news/1013-meeting-industry-pressures/)
• Business Travel Outlook Survey Info (http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-10-12-business-travel-outlook_N.htm)
• Announcement on Virtual Event Research (http://www.virtualedge.org/articles/index/view?id=1651552:Article:6709)

If you aren't already using Google Alerts (http://www.google.com/alerts) give it a try.

Changes...

At the ASAE 2009 Conference in Toronto I heard Gary Hamel (http://www.garyhamel.com/) speak at the opening general session where he shared some best practices for management and business/organizational structure. To quote Hamel - "how do you thrive in a world that is shaken rather than stirred."  As we all know (and experience on a daily basis), the pace of change today is the fastest that it has ever been in history. The traditional change management model is flawed - it is reactive and often by the time change is being implemented it is too late or in response to a crisis. So how do we change the way we change? According to Hamel, becoming more adaptable involves four steps.

Get over denial. We need to start treating our beliefs as a hypothesis. Listen to the dissidents within our organizations. Challenge industry dogma. The longer we deny there is a need for change, the more expensive adaptation will become.

Create options for renewal. The case for change needs to be better than the case for the status quo.But to get to these ideas, individuals need to be able to express them and organizations need to be able to capture those ideas, and spend a  lot of time diverging before they converge on the idea(s) they will move forward with.

Realign talent and capital. We need to get better at moving resources to support new ideas. If we want to be truly innovative, we need to allow people time to do this and provide the resources to support new idea development.

Change your management principles.How do we build an adaptable/innovative organization? How do we create a workplace that inspires people to bring their best? We need to reinvent the management structures within our organizations. Creating workplaces that inspire people to bring their best.

If you were at the session and heard Gary Hamel speak, or if you have heard him before - let us know what you think about these ideas. Or if you are working in an organization that is adapting and thriving, share how. I look forward to your comments.

Nikki

Are you Conflict Free?

Did you know that when you become a member of MPI, you agree to abide by the Principles of Professionalism? (http://www.mpiweb.org/Archive/0/55.aspx) These principles include a statement about avoiding actions which are or could be perceived as a conflict of interest or for individual gain.

In addition, many organizations today have conflict-of-interest policies. Conflict of Interest policies are intended to ensure impartial decision-making by officers, directors and senior employees. Conflict of Interest policies typically require insiders to disclose their relationships and connections to suppliers seeking their business. 

So are you conflict free? Consider the following scenarios:

• You receive commissions on bookings - do you disclose that information to your client?
• Several destinations are under consideration for an incentive program you are planning - one of the destinations offers you a trip for you and your family if their destination is booked. What do you do?
• You serve on the Board of an industry association. During your term, you are asked to serve on the Board of another organization who has similar interests. What do you do?
• Your organization has issued an RFP for some upcoming events. Your best friend has started his own catering company. He asks you to write a letter of reference, or put in a good word when your organization considers the proposals. What do you do?
• You are a volunteer on a committee and they are looking for a service of a company that your husband happens to work for. When recommending that this company be considered do you disclose your relationship?
  

We'd love to hear from you on your conflict of interest experiences or policies and procedures. Post a comment.

Nikki

Connecting the Dots to Your Future

On Thursday February 5, those of you who were at MPI Toronto Chapter's Monthly Meeting know that Joan Eisenstodt's presentation sparked some lively conversation. Whether you think that the economic downturn spells disaster for the industry, or if you see this as an opportunity - your opinion is relevant and we need to hear from you on this issue.

There is a conversation going on at MPI Toronto's GroupSpace that was started as a follow up to Thursday's meeting. If you have an opinion - whether glass half full or half empty - I encourage you to join in this conversation.

http://www.mpiweb.org/cms/mpiweb/community/CommBoards.aspx?TopicId=4539

A salient point that comes out of this economic downturn is the reminder that we are all in this together.

Nikki

One List To Hang On the Wall

I don't know about you, but I make lists - things to do, books to read, movies to see, quotes I like, places I want to go. I try to review these lists periodically to see how my progress is coming along. That is not too say that everything I do is on a list to begin with - but the long term stuff makes it on. You know, thinks like you've always meant to read Thoreau's Walden but have never found the time... or watching The Godfather Part I and II back to back.

Making lists helps you see progress, it also helps you see change. Sometimes when I review a list I wonder what was I thinking... and so things come off the list and other things get added.

In part of my list review, I came across another list that I had stored in my list file, a list of 10 great words. The article that these words are from is by Jim Carroll, his article talks about adopting ten simple words to get you into the right frame of mind to take positive steps to manage change. The ten great words for innovation are:

1. Observe
2. Think
3. Change
4. Dare
5. Banish
6. Try
7. Empower
8. Question
9. Grow
10. Do

Regardless of the situation, these words have powerful meanings. This past weekend the MPI Toronto Chapter Board held their annual mid-year retreat. The MPI Toronto Chapter Board put these words in to action in dissecting the Chapter's progress, challenging our assumptions and realigning goals and activities for the rest of the year. As 2009 kicks off it is a great time for each of us to look at our businesses, our lives, our careers, whatever it is we need to examine. 

To read the whole article by Jim Carroll, visit http://www.jimcarroll.com/10s/10words.htm

Nikki

What's Allowed in Your Meeting Room?

As we begin to wind down the holiday season, for many of us it is a relief to see 2008 come to a close. A year of ups and downs in many business sectors we can look at 2009 with the optimism that a new year brings.

So what is in store for 2009? Your guess is as good as mine. What I do know is that technology is going to continue to change - new tools and gadgets, new ways of interaction on the internet, and new challenges for technophobes.

There was an interesting article in the January 2009 issue of Entrepreneur Magazine on whether technology gadgets like BlackBerrys and smartphones should be banned from meetings. For those interested, here's the link to the article: http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2009/january/199070.html . I know that I find it annoying at meetings when others are using their phones.

The MPI Toronto Chapter Board agreed no phones during their Board meetings. After all, we survived before we all had smart phones. I believe this has increased the level of involvement in the meetings because everyone is paying attention.

What's your company policy? Do you have one? Are your meetings gadget free? Post a comment if you have something to share.

Happy New Year!

Nikki

Where's the Exit?

My eyes stumbled to a small item in the Globe & Mail on Thursday August 28 that Dave Freeman had passed away on August 17. Now most of you are probably thinking who’s Dave Freeman? Dave Freeman is the co-author of 100 Things to Do Before You Die the travel guide which spawned a whole host of other books along the same vein. Mr Freeman was only 47. That’s right 47. And while his death was a bit of a freak accident (he fell and hit his head in his home), it is a sober reminder of the time we have on this planet. Interestingly (or not), Mr Freeman was only about half-way through the 100 Things listed in the book.

In thinking about my 100 Things list, I have realized that while I do have a list (it’s so hard not to), the quality of my experiences is much more important than the quantity. I am sure that if we all stopped to think about this, we would agree.

Our industry is very fast paced, and still seems to be in hyper-drive. I think most would agree on that point. For a moment wouldn’t it be refreshing to go into a freeze-frame, take stock and then start up again at a more realistic pace? A pace that gives us the time to embrace quality experiences instead of the frantic let’s get it done and while we are at it let’s add another meeting because the more we do, the more valuable we are… 

As we kick into the back to school mode that Labour Day and September ushers, I challenge each of you to at some point stop doing and reflect for a moment on the quality of not only the experiences that you are a part of, but the quality of the experiences we create for others.

As always comments and feedback are welcome.

Balance ?

I was talking with an industry colleague today about life-work balance. We both remarked how busy we are – even though it is the middle of summer. It seems now that we are constantly on the go, moving from one meeting to the next, with barely a pause in between. And going wireless has sometimes made us even more ‘wired’ – technology is the caffeine of the 21^st Century.

How many of us have woken up in the middle of the night thinking of what you need to do the next day or what you forgot to do yesterday? And while some of our employers offer health and wellness programs, how many of us take advantage of the benefits?

As meetings professionals, we are constantly barraged by deadlines, (whether real or self-imposed) that further drive us into this state of ‘frenetic busyness’. The reality is that when we work this way, we become less effective, and it can be bad for us – our health, our families and our employers. At some point, we need to begin to take this seriously – to slow down and take time to relax, turn off the SmartPhones, iPhones, or whatever other kind of technology that has us wired. It is up to each of us to take responsibility for restoring balance to our lives, and to set our own priorities.

Some Life/Work-Balance Resources

• http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/lp/spila/wlb/01home.shtml
• http://www.davidposen.com/pages/resmain.html
• http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/worklife_balance.html 

Have a resources to share on life/work balance issues?
How do you integrate ‘wellness’ into your meetings and events?
Do you work to live or live to work?

Drop us a comment and let us know what you think…