...And Onward!
Do you ever get that slightly depressed feeling following a big event? I’ve heard this happens to brides following their wedding so frequently that it even has a technical term - “postnuptial depression.” As we come to the conclusion of HCI’s 2013 Summit I’m experiencing a little bit of my own version of this. Depression is a strong word but perhaps I could call this “post-Summit sadness” instead. All the hard work, planning, time, and energy devoted to the event has finally culminated.
Fortunately though, I’m not leaving this conference empty-handed. As I reflect over the last three days it’s clear that I am certainly leaving Orlando more energized and informed, with valuable information, tips, and tools that I can use in both my personal and professional life. Below are a few of my favorites.
It’s the simple things in life. Derreck Kayongo, founder of the Global Soap Project, fled Uganda as a child and moved to America at the age of 10. I must admit that for me, soap is not something I’ve given much thought about—I am fortunate enough to take soap for granted. I do my weekly shopping and get to peruse an entire aisle dedicated to different kinds of soap; hand-soap, liquid soap, bar soap, antibacterial soap. It was very moving and very humbling to hear Derreck’s retelling of his experience handing out soap to those who need it. Derreck saw a need, and was able to fulfill that need in an extremely creative way. Chaos and ambiguity often creates the necessity for quick thinking and resourceful solutions.
Make your health a priority. This is an easy one and probably doesn’t come as a shock to most people, but it is helpful to be reminded about the impact your health and well-being has on your performance in every area of your life. Chris Johnson gave us manageable tips and tools to improve healthy eating and encourage frequent exercise. In volatile and uncertain environments, taking care of yourself is even more important, yet is ironically more likely to be ignored when we are so busy. He encourages people to get up throughout the day and stretch, walk, or do any other simple movements that get you away from hunching over your computer screen.
Accuracy is nothing without precision. In a world dominated by “big-data” we need to step back and ask, what does that mean? Nate Silver gave us a great framework for making informed decisions based on the data we receive. Information isn’t useful or relevant unless you also take into account the 3 C’s: culture, context and competition. Consider your environment and the outside competitive space in which you operate before forming a conclusion.
The VUCA world – characterized by Volatility, Uncertainty, Chaos and Ambiguity - will continue to surround us in the workplace, but starting the conversation about how to thrive in this environment, and learning about and creating the tools and resources to address these issues is the next frontier. Now, as I look ahead to 2014, I already can’t wait to return to Orlando and get another critical dose of thought leadership from some of the brightest minds and organizations in the human capital space. Stayed tuned for more information on next year’s conference, and if you’re still fawning over this years and suffering from some “post-Summit sadness” as well, you can continue the conversation on HCI’s Twitter feed and conference blog page!