Leverage Strengths, Skills & Savvy To Maximize Assets Present In Any Situation.

Change Agents don’t have to look very far or too closely to spot resistance.  Setbacks are commonplace.  Unwanted and unintended circumstances abound and come from many directions…economic issues, internal politics, revenue shortfalls, entrenched legacy systems, etc. Professional and personal disappointments always arise. None of us is exempt.  That’s why Asset-Based Thinking in the face of difficult situations is so important and so useful. With ABT, build your power and influence by uncovering and magnify what’s best in virtually every situation you encounter.

Over 50 years ago, psychologist David McClelland suggested that we measure the value of a given day, month or year in three ways:  results, learnings, and experience.  When you stop to think about it, McClelland’s suggestion is a true ABT practice.  The invitation to examine what is learned and experienced—alongside the results that are achieved—creates three valuable bottom lines for any timeframe and situation.

Valuable lessons and life experience are embedded in victories and defeats, in turning points and crossroads.  We may not always get the results we seek, but we are always in line to become a little wiser and a little bit better of a person as a consequence.

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Mine The Gold In Any Situation

Expanding What You See – What is happening here?

Remember the children’s magazine picture games? The instructions read: Find 8 items hidden in this (seemingly straightforward) picture. At first, you are stumped…then, suddenly, the more you examine the picture, the more you realize that things are not what they seemed at first glance. You can employ these same skills to spot new opportunities in the way you “picture” a challenging situation.

Take your blinders off and start with a good hard look at the dynamics of the current reality. Analyze what is really going on.  Concentrate on tapping into the nuances.  Identify the real or potentially real gains and benefits associated with the situation.  Dig deeper. What is happening here that I or we can leverage?  Remember that even crises and upheavals have their upsides.  As an Asset-Based Thinker, you see and capitalize on the assets inherent in every situation—especially when they are invisible at first glance.

Maximize the Upside  – What do I want to make happen here?

Given the assets in this situation, how can I use what is happening (whether I like it or not) in order to achieve worthwhile objectives.  Which skills and talents do I or we need to move forward in a positive way? What are the keys to my success? Ask yourself (and others involved) to set specific, worthwhile objectives to be achieved as you engage the challenges and pushback at hand.

The best way to mine the gold in any situation is to find out what is meaningful and worthwhile about the situation, then take action to “milk” the situation for all it’s worth.  Find out how you can use even upsetting moments to inspire great solutions and ensure that everyone involved benefits in the short-term and the long run.

Minimize the Downside – How can I prevent or contain the losses?

In the midst of personal setbacks, business downturns and resistance to change, you may be tempted to look at all the things that are going wrong or could possibly go wrong. That, of course, can be overwhelming. Magnifying what is “worst” can even lead to panic and despair.  Those fear-based thoughts feed a deficit-based downward spiral.  There IS a better way to contain unwanted consequences.

Make desire based outcomes the source of your strength and power. Identify the one or two real or potentially real problems associated with the negative situation, upheaval or resistance.  Then create concrete strategies for minimizing the negative consequences of each problem.  Next, get in action.  Measure your impact.  Revise your strategies if necessary.  Stay the course.

A Helpful ABT Tool: Shifting From Threat to Challenge

In any given situation that you see as a problem, disappointment or setback, use this ABT Tool to shift from threat to challenge.  You are far more effective and proactive when you are motivated by the “promises of victory” than you are by the “fears of defeat”.

• Step One. Ask yourself, “What do I fear most about this situation? What are the real or potentially real losses associated with what’s happening?”
• Step Two. Ask, “What can I or we do to eliminate my fear?  What can I or we do to minimize the fear of change or loss?”
• Step Three. Given this situation, what are the possibilities and opportunities for myself, others, team or organization?  How could I/we grow or benefit?  What could I/we learn?
• Step Four. How can I/we put our drive and enthusiasm for achieving these possibilities and seizing those opportunities to work?

It was an honor and a privilege to be with all of you at the E4 2010 conference. It truly is an experience I will never forget. One final thought.

“I have always believed and still believe that whatever good or bad fortune may come our way, we can always give it meaning and transform it into something of value.”

–Hermann Hesse

As we count down the last few days before e4, the EXCITEMENT as well as a tiny bit of ANXIETY manages to creep its way into the noise of my mind.  It is not so different from the fear I experienced when I was venturing off to my first day of school;  or departing off to college ~ terrifying!!   Even my first day of work, here at Experient, over 22 years ago conjured feelings of that first day of school so many years ago!

It is a feeling that at times is so hard to explain, yet I know we have all experienced “Anticipation”!!

Each year in our planning efforts for e4, I gain all the more respect for our valued clients who work on their annual meetings all year long. . . or any type of meeting for that matter ~ they all take so much Work!

I know that if I went back and found all of the scraps of paper that I scribbled notes on during this planning process, I for sure would be able to wallpaper my bathroom at home or at the very least publish a small novel ~ UGH so many trees!

Look forward to seeing all of you who are attending e4, and ANTICIPATING a fun filled, productive conference  for ALL.

PS –  If any of you have any words of wisdom to calm the butterflies, feel free to reach out. . .

Teri Tonioli

Over the past few  weeks we have been featuring profiles on some of our Experient clients.  Clients who have joined us at e4 in the past or are joining us this year for the first time.  Take a few minutes to get to know some of your industry peers.  Great people you will have a chance to get to know better when you join us at e4.  See you there ~ Teri Tonioli

Tracy Riggan

• Name: Tracy Riggan
• Organization: IPC – Association Connecting Electronics Industries
• Title: Director, Meetings & Events
• Location: Bannockburn, Illinois
• Years with this organization: 6 Tracy will be with IPC a total of eleven years in November.
• Professional background: Right after college, Tracy joined the Peace Corp in Kyrgyzstan where she was an English Language Teacher for two years.  After her time with the Peace Corp, Tracy decided to stay in Kyrgyzstan for a while longer working for the company, Universal Tobacco Kyrgyzstan.  At this company, she was the “catch all” person who basically wore almost every hat in the company from supply manager, customer relations manager, meeting and event planner to the housing / hotel manager (she basically managed the company owned houses where clients would stay during their visits).
• Family life: Tracy and her husband, Ivan, have two beautiful children and three pets.  Their seven year old daughter, Lida, recently won a goldfish at the county fair who she named, Orangie.  Their five year old son, Vitaly, helped to name the family’s two parakeets, Wollie and Birdie.
• Morning Routine: You couldn’t ask for a better wake up call than this!  Tracy and Ivan are fortunate to have their own personal wake up calls of Lida and Vitaly crawling into bed and snuggling with them every morning around 7:45.  And to make the morning even better, Tracy’s mother-in-law makes breakfast and helps to get the kids ready and out the door by 9:00!  While all this is happening, Tracy makes coffee and checks emails while the coffee is brewing (oh, the joys of having an iPhone).
• Biggest professional challenge currently (or ever in the past): There is no overarching “big” challenge, but a lot of little challenges such as getting attendees to to the annual meeting and flexibility in hotel contract to allow for changes based on creation of innovative ideas / changes to the conference.
• Accomplishment they are proud of from this last year: All Access Pass – Created a new package for attendees to feel special and more flexible to participate.
• In a game of Truth or Dare – which do you pick? Dare
• Guilty pleasure: Tracy’s two guilty pleasures are chocolate (she has some everyday) and playing Solitare on her iPhone.
• Favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon: Go any where with the kids such as the park or library, just to name a couple.
• If you could have any super power, what would it be and why? This is a toss up between – seeing into the future or reading people’s mind.  If you could see into the future, then you’d be able to make better decisions.  If you could read people’s minds, you would be able to tell kids how to behave.
• Why do you come to e4? I love the creative energy surrounding this event.  The people who attend are there with a purpose.
• What would you like to talk to other clients about at e4? How are other organizations using available tools (registration, social media) in creative new ways without causing too much change / pain for their attendees.  How are other organizations designing successful events by using these new available tools?

Char Shada

Over the past few  weeks we have been featuring profiles on some of our Experient clients.  Clients who have joined us at e4 in the past or are joining us this year for the first time.  Take a few minutes to get to know some of your industry peers.  Great people you will have a chance to get to know better when you join us at e4.  See you there ~ Teri Tonioli

Hugh Easley

• Name: Hugh Easley
• Organization: National Association of College Stores
• Title: VP, Meetings & Expositions
• Location: Oberlin, OH
• Years with this organization: 6
• Professional background: Hargove Inc., VP Tradeshows, DC area; I -X Center Executive VP, Cleveland
• Family life: Two Yorkies
• Morning Routine: Coffee, light breakfast, read morning paper
• Biggest professional challenge currently (or ever in the past): Reducing the number of staff in a previous recession
• Accomplishment they are proud of from this last year: 2010 – produced our largest tradeshow ever
• In a game of Truth or Dare – which do you pick? Dare
• My last splurge was: Purchasing a 52” Sony TV
• Favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon: Go for a ride in my boat on Lake Erie
• If you could have any super power, what would it be and why? Fly like Superman and avoid all the traffic
• Why do you come to e4? Learn more in detail about all the Experient products/services and networking with peers
• What would you like to talk to other clients about at e4? Best business practices to enhance tradeshow/conference satisfaction