The Power of Presence: Why In-Person Leadership Summits Matter in a Digital World

As we embark on our upcoming leadership summit, I can't help but reflect on the importance of gathering in person, especially in a world that's increasingly digital. There's something irreplaceable about the energy, the connection, and the spontaneity that only happens when we're face-to-face.

The Human Element in Leadership

Our theme for this year's Extended Leadership Team (ELT) meeting is "Living Our Next Chapter of Growth: Driving Stability to Build Scalability." It's a mouthful, but it's about people at its core. It's about each of us growing personally and professionally and how that collective growth fuels the company's journey forward.

However, we must address the elephant in the room: the challenges of hybrid work for leaders. Our leaders are grappling with new challenges in a world where technology has blurred the lines between office and home. On one hand, the flexibility of hybrid work offers unparalleled opportunities for work-life balance and taps into a global talent pool. On the other hand, it raises questions about team cohesion, corporate culture, and how to maintain the same level of engagement and productivity. It's like trying to conduct an orchestra where some musicians are in the concert hall while others are tuning in from their living rooms. The conductor—our leader—must ensure that the music remains harmonious and that each musician feels equally part of the ensemble. This requires new skills, from mastering digital communication tools to rethinking how we measure performance and foster team spirit.

This makes this in-person summit even more important. It will allow our leaders to share success stories and challenges but, more importantly, to tune their section of the orchestra with the other sections so that when they work within their teams, the full orchestra is playing in tune.

The Forest and the Trees

In the daily grind, it's easy to get lost in the details—to focus so much on the trees that we lose sight of the forest. This summit is our opportunity to step back, rise above the operational noise, and to see the bigger picture. It's a time to align on our priorities, to strengthen our capabilities, and to deepen our connections. I have had so many conversations with our leaders where they share their challenges in the weeds/woods, and I hear their challenges. To solve some of those challenges, we must sometimes take a couple of steps back and take the time to architect the solution before going down to the tree level again. Our leaders are very passionate about what they do and have been asked to do a lot (both by me and by what they expect of themselves). The summit is my way of helping them take the time to rise above the trees and see the vision, visualize how they will move forward faster, and plan their next steps. I almost picture myself pulling them from the ground, sweaty and tired, putting them on a platform together where they can take some time to breathe the fresh air and craft the direction forward together.

The Trade-offs and Challenges

Of course, gathering in person comes with its own set of challenges. There's the logistical jigsaw puzzle, the time away from our regular duties, and the ever-present health and safety considerations. But the trade-offs? They're invaluable. The conversations that happen by chance during breaks, the nuanced discussions that only happen in the same room, and the more organic than orchestrated team-building are the moments that make us a stronger, more cohesive unit.

In one of my chats with one of our young leaders, I heard the following: "If I step out of the daily grind to review progress and plan the future, I sometimes feel guilty that I am leaving my people behind. I feel guilty that I am not down at the tree level with the troops. But I see the value and that I must do it. The summit can help me accomplish that without the guilt as you made that call for me". You can feel the passion and the challenge we have as leaders. We must take the time to step up above the trees knowing there are key trade-offs and challenges, one of which is leaving our hectic schedules and getting further behind. However, one or two steps back will propel us forward many more. Though this is easier said, it is, for some, hard to do. This summit aims to enable our teams to take that time with the rest of the leadership team to do just that. Be informed, reflect, learn, collaborate, plan, do!

The Ripple Effect

Unlike in Vegas, what happens in these meetings doesn't stay in these meetings. The insights gained, the commitments made, and the relationships strengthened have a ripple effect. They inform, engage, and enable us to be better leaders, driving stability and scalability for the next fiscal year and years to come.

So, as we prepare for this pivotal gathering, I invite you to reflect on your own leadership journey. How do you make room for the human element in a digital world? How do you take the time to step up above the trees to plan your path forward?

Curious? What is the schedule?

If you are curious about what we will cover at the Summit. Here is a quick summary:

Day 1 – October 10th: Setting the Foundation

• Morning: The Management Team (MT) gathers for a dry run, ensuring everything is in place for a smooth event. Participants travel to the venue.
• Afternoon: The day officially kicks off with a warm welcome from me, Lu, followed by an introduction. The focus is on aligning everyone with our themes and objectives, particularly emphasizing our next chapter of growth. We then delve into the bigger picture of To-Increase's journey and what's needed to close 2023 successfully.
• Evening: The day wraps up with a session on brand identity, values, mission, and vision, helping everyone understand the importance of our brand and the purpose of what we are doing, as well as what we are all aiming for. We close with a BBQ dinner, offering a relaxed setting for everyone to connect.

Day 2 – October 11th: Deep Dive into Key Topics

• Morning: After breakfast, the day starts with a quick agenda refresh. We then break into functional groups to discuss progress in 2023 and strategize for the remaining months. This is an opportunity for the team to take the balcony and look at what we must complete so they can architect the future.
• Afternoon: The focus shifts to team-building activities, including an "upskilling challenge" where participants learn a new skill. This is followed by a "pressure cooker challenge," emphasizing the importance of collaboration.
• Evening: Dinner is organized on-site, with assigned seating to facilitate meaningful conversations.

Day 3 – October 12th: Action Plans and Personal Accountability

• Morning: The day begins with breakfast and a quick check-out from the hotel. We then explore the dysfunctions facing teams and how to overcome them (Have you read Lencioni's books? I highly suggest them!). This is followed by finalizing action plans for driving growth.
• Afternoon: The focus is on personal accountability, where each participant identifies behaviors to strengthen or change. We wrap up with a "14-day sprint" session, defining actions and owners for the next two weeks.
• Closing: The event concludes with heartfelt wrap-up words, feedback, and a moment of appreciation among team members.

Each day is like a chapter in a book, designed to bring us closer to our shared goals while nurturing the human connections that make our team extraordinary.