Prepare to set sail for an enlightening journey of self-exploration! When I arrived at the Women’s Leadership Institute at the Ritz-Carlton, I was greeted by a large gingerbread pirate ship complete with Santa and Mrs. Claus standing outside their cabin. I wish I could hop on board and have a cup of tea with the adorable duo while we let the little gingerbread crew take us across the Atlantic, but I’m on another mission this week!
The fifth annual Women’s Leadership Institute has brought over 200 women from 38 states together to hone leadership skills for working in a rapidly changing environment, develop a better understanding of campus as a workplace and culture, and share experiences with others about how campuses are adapting and adjusting. All this challenging work is taking place on Amelia Island (Florida) against the amazing backdrop of a luxury hotel at the ocean’s edge. Although this won’t be a trip for surfing, kayaking or hiking, I’m still enjoying being in these extraordinary and elegant surroundings. I’m looking forward to reflecting, redefining, and relaxing!
The conference kicked-off tonight with keynote speaker Sally Hogshead author of Fascinate: Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation. Hogshead’s message was, “Fascinating women triumph. Always.” She encouraged participants to find a way to use their unique character traits to brand themselves. She said, “The thing that makes you different makes you special and fascinating.” Sally even brought her daughter on stage to tell her that she never has to wear pink and that she doesn’t always have to do exactly what her mom tells her.
The dynamic speaker especially encouraged the audience to tap into their “Vice” trigger. Vice is the trigger that pushes us through boundaries. Hogshead said, “If you’re not creating a problem with somebody, you’re probably not fascinating anybody.” Activating the Vice trigger is about luring your audience away from their standard choices. It is used three-times more often by men than women as a means of persuasion and captivation.
Why is it so hard to activate the Vice trigger? Maybe it’s because we don’t want our backsides exposed. Taking risks means that some people may talk negatively about us, we may fail, or we might embarrass ourselves. There’s a famous quote about leadership that says, “The higher up the corporate ladder you climb, the more your ass hangs out.” Among the participants who took the {F} Score Brand Personality Test, most women at the conference scored low on Vice and highest on “Power” and “Lust.” Over the next few days, I hope to reflect on my strengths and natural triggers, as well as redefine myself in areas like “Vice.”
Are any of you readers at the conference? What did you like most about tonight’s opening address?
The “Vice trigger” interests me. In my workplace, I don’t get to the level of “fascination” very often. Not only have I not been given power or a voice, but I get myself into trouble when I do assert my ideas for change and betterment. I don’t quite know how to be heard among people who have already heard me.
@Leslie: I am also interested in learning more about how to handle getting into trouble when we assert our ideas for change and betterment…whether it’s “trouble” from a supervisor, the institution, or our peers.