And the Oscar Goes to…

One of my favorite things about speaking at a conference is that if you keep your eyes and ears open, you will likely get more value than you give. As hard as I may try, I can only do so much in an hour versus the many hours I spend listening to other speakers, asking attendees questions, and learning about what great storytelling looks like from the event’s architects.

The Arc of the Day 

On Day 1 of the conference, I was the last keynote speaker, yet I know how important it can be to attend all of the sessions that precede mine. Any great conference has a story arc, so being the last speaker requires bringing that story home. For me, the only way to do so effectively was by taking in everything that came before my taking the stage.

I watched TEC Canada’s owner, Dr. Lynn Tanner talk about the TEC Canada value proposition and how it inspired his confidence nearly forty years ago. Of course, reflecting on the difference it has made in so many people’s lives since then, he shared, with palpable emotion, a belief that has only grown stronger over time.

TEC Canada CEO Todd Millar addressed the attendees in a manner that I can only describe as a masterclass in CEO communication, with an executive presence that revealed confidence, humility, transparency, and gratitude. Todd also delivered an element of fun. The theme of the conference was Come Together. That said, during his remarks, his phone rang, and feigning embarrassment, he said, “Wait a minute, it’s a FaceTime call.” At this point, the “FaceTime call” was projected on the big screens, and low and behold, it was Paul McCartney (or perhaps his AI counterpart) who welcomed everyone to the event and offered his perspective on the theme.

Todd closed his remarks by painting a picture of what TEC Canada will look like in 2030 that the audience embraced as aspirational, yet completely within reach. He also turned the program over to his team to shine a light on them so they could offer their reports directly to the audience. Substance, fun, vision, and appreciation. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Keynote speaker Jeremy Goldberg spoke of empathy, kindness, and love and offered his three-point approach to coaching which, I am paraphrasing, involved: 1) Where are we now? 2) What do we want? 3) What do we need to do to make it happen? – the rubber meeting the road, so to speak. Finally, TEC Canada Chair Carlos Fox shared his journey of becoming a group Chair, demonstrating complete vulnerability, which I can only summarize in my friend Sekou Andrews’s words: “You win some, you learn some.” It was powerful, graceful, and deeply appreciated by his peers.

Best Performance 

Carlos also involved and challenged the audience with an exercise, as many of us did, because what we know is that the most valuable asset at any conference is not the organizers, keynote speakers, workshop facilitators, or sponsors, it’s the attendees. The more we as speakers can promote engagement among the audience members, the more they learn and grow.

In the exercise Carlos facilitated, the TEC Chairs in the room were asked about how they inspire their members to live their values – to be intentional about being at their best every time they come together. David MacLean shared a practice he employs that I had never heard about before, and I’ve worked with more than 700 groups since late 2016. He explained that he purchased a replica of an academy award that the group’s peers give to the member, who during that meeting, delivers the best performance of the group’s core values. It’s not only a fun way to close the day, but also a positive way of inspiring everyone in the room to be even more intentional about bringing their best to every engagement.

Bringing it Home 

For my part, I summarized our shared experience, doubled-down on the power of peers, and challenged the group Chairs to answer four questions about ensuring a high level of psychological safety in their groups – a key component to helping members maximize the value proposition. I talked to them about what to do and asked them HOW they do it. That’s where the rubber meets the road. The results were impressive. I can’t wait to review all of their practices and recommendations.

Summary  

The next time you attend a conference, be mindful of the theme, the story of the day, and the chapters of that story. Then, talk about what you discovered with the other attendees and ask them what they saw that maybe you did not. You will walk away learning more and remembering more of what you learned, than if you just sat back and took notes. Moreover, the chances of applying what you learn will increase exponentially. The story of Day 1 was the Power of Peers – one that created an atmosphere of abundance that left everyone richer.

The Academy Award for the Day 1 goes to TEAM TEC Canada.

Written by Leo Bottary.
Have you read?
Most Innovative Countries in the World.
Countries by Average Wealth per Person.
Countries with the Highest Age Dependency Ratio.
Best Universities In The World.