It’s About People, Stupid!
I’ve been thinking a lot about HITEC these last few weeks. Why I wanted to go and what I hoped to accomplish.
My wife was asking me the same questions, especially since getting me to Baltimore required a six hour drive round trip to drop me at the airport; I’ve wisely arranged for a regional shuttle to get me back. After listening to our back and forth a bit, my eldest daughter piped up and said, “Because it’s nerd networking for hotel geeks, Dad!”
While I might not have chosen those exact words, she was spot on … it hit me squarely in the forehead that HITEC is about people, stupid!
This should not have been as surprising a revelation as it was.
I’ve spent those same last few weeks arranging times to meet people and vendors, lining up old friends to visit with, and scheduling co-workers with whom I would like to enjoy a tasty adult beverage. Everyone, it turns out, has a calendar to keep at HITEC.
Every conversation I have goes something like “Can’t make it them, I’m talking to my vendors,” they’ll say. Or “Well, I’m swamped Wednesday, but give me a call between 5 and 5:15 Tuesday night and we’ll see if we’re in the same part of the convention hall.”
It seems this show is about the people for all of us! Read More »
If You Can’t Say Something Nice, What DO You Say?
How to Respond When Someone Asks Your Opinion and You Have Nothing Nice to Say
Have you ever been cornered by a colleague and asked a potentially incriminating question: “What do you think about the new boss?” or, “What do you think about the co-workers new hair cut?” or “What do you think about the CEO’s new (controversial) policy?”
The list of potential gossip-inducing questions is endless. However, the outcome is always the same: Anything you say can and will be used against you.
Three Options
In order not to get pulled into the he-said-she-said fray, here are three options for responding: Read More »
