Do The Math

What does it cost to put 100 of your key executives in an off-site venue for two days with meals, accommodations, airfare, and a host of keynote speakers? It costs a lot, in many ways! At the start of the conference is the mandatory leader's speech. Now imagine, from an Uber on the way to the venue, the leader calls one of the people running the meeting and says, "I'm on my way, what am I saying?" Is this a leader that inspires you? It's the one big occasion of the year where all the key executives are in one room, and yet the leader hasn't taken the time to think about the critical key message, a dream for the future, or even strategic imperatives for what lies ahead. Sadly, I see this situation over and over again. Leaders are given the obligatory time to open a conference and spend no time seizing the opportunity with a speech that uplifts, inspires, or makes people feel good about where the company is going. Unorganised, undisciplined, and a complete waste of a conference moment due to a lack of focus on what is important and what matters. Little wonder such a small percentage of workers feel great about their work and inspired by the future of their company. I've seen it in the charitable space, the corporate space, and within institutions. This leader leaves the stage to lukewarm applause, only to get back in an Uber and disappear into a sea of emails, texts, meetings, and distraction. This is not a leader that inspires me to follow. © GB