??What I learnt at IHS

Man it feels good to be back at trade shows!

The people, the buzz, the connections, the possibilities…

(Not the food sadly, that was crap).

I was at Independent Hotel Show in London for two days last week and it filled me with joy to see my lovely industry filling the exhibition hall with noise.

It was also a bit knackering.

(If you think I’m crazy for enjoying trade shows, I’ve got a question for you down there ??).

Here are a few moments that stood out for me...

Awe is good for you

Philippa Wagner of PeoplePlacesSpaces ?shared generational travel trends, including building in more wonder and awe into our travel experiences.

Think: a breathtaking climb to a breathtaking view, more stars than you knew existed, sighting a rare animal, listening to the swell of an orchestra, or experiencing an extraordinary act of kindness.

Awe makes us feel small.?

At the same time it makes us feel like we are part of something much bigger.

It takes us back to a childlike state where we see the world through amazed eyes.

Experiencing more awe in life has been shown to reduce stress, put our anxieties into perspective, quiet our inner critic and make us more generous towards others.

In what small way can you make today awesome?

“None of us wants to be defined by our worst day at work”

Two amazing organisations, Only a Pavement Away and The Clink , shared how they are supporting ex-offenders to get training and find jobs, with ongoing support.

12 million people in the UK have a criminal record, and it’s been proven time and again that to break the cycle of crime (which is so interlinked with education, poverty, access to support) we need to empower ex-offenders to take back control of their lives and have the chance to work.

Could you take this idea back to your team leaders and HR department? Could you kill two birds with one stone and plug the staffing gap while supporting people who need a hand up?

"My onboarding was awful; they gave me 100 training videos to watch"

Sound familiar? I met someone on?Tuesday who told me this

Firstly, we don’t learn much from watching videos. Yes, it’s fine for understanding the compliance policy. No, it won’t help you get better at negotiating, managing your time or influencing your stakeholders.

Secondly, how impersonal can you get?! The first few weeks in a new job should be about understanding expectations, company culture and setting yourself up for success.

If you’d like a few ideas, watch my webinar playback here.

So, if you think I’m bonkers for enjoying trade shows, tell me: what worries you about networking? What is striking fear into your heart about trade shows? ??

With the UK biggie (WTM) coming up fast, I’ll be making a quick video on how to make it through the week with your mind and body still intact.

Want a different kind of networking?

The modern world has in many ways left us lonelier than ever. Here are two options to meet new people (no, not for dating).

Timeleft: ?five strangers get together for dinner, matched by “personality algorithms”

Lunchclub: if you prefer virtual, sign up for a lunchclub date every week. You’ll spend 45 minutes chatting with people from around the world, matched to your interests. I’ve used this a lot and was always impressed with the match and learnt so much! (Plus, you realise that people with fancy job titles are just people after all).

Until next time!?