Interview
Holly Ransom
“ In a highstress world we can never find the perfect 20 minutes to meditate or exercise ... we need to challenge ourselves to break it down into a threeminute version ” distressing are . We need to challenge ourselves to break it down to a three-minute version . “ Leaders should be really mindful of being visible about doing this and this gives permission for your team to do the same ,” she says .
Digitisation With increasing digitisation , how does Ransom you see the future of business events evolving ? She sees technology being more and more involved in every facet of our event design . “ We ’ re seeing the idea that events can both start earlier and finish later . I like what Priya Parker talks about in terms of seeing the start of your event is the moment you receive an invitation . I see there being an elongation of the event experience , I see there being the opportunity to support the ideas that are shared at events , turning into outcomes more regularly .” It is important , she adds , that people are able to go back to work the next day , and actually embed the ideas . to the challenge of creating an environment and culture of questioning . They should , she says , want to be on the front foot in driving their own direction or their response to what ’ s going on in the market .
Embracing discomfort “ Building a habit of getting comfortable being uncomfortable is arguably the single most important thing leaders can be doing and cultivating as part of their culture in their team in this current day and age ,” says Ransom . “ Leaders who can build the muscle of their change resiliency , that ability to embrace discomfort , have a competitive advantage moving forward .” Good leadership , she believes , means breaking things down into bite sized pieces and working in a way that encourages consistency , “ because that ’ s the way we build a habit and build a muscle ”. Reducing anxiety and stress means having the self awareness and the understanding of what works for you , Ransom believes . “ It begins by asking yourself the question , ‘ What is it that gives me energy ? What is it that allows me to come down from the adrenaline high or the intensity of an event ? Some people use breath work , some use mindfulness activities , others get out in nature ; the important thing is to know what works for you and then to be really clear about the systems that you ’ re using to support yourself to do it consistently ,” she says . The reality is in high stress demanding worlds , she says , we can never find the perfect 20 minutes to meditate or 30 minutes to go to the gym , or whatever your tools for
Staying ahead of the curve Staying ahead of the curve in terms of industry trends and insights is another core competency of leaders , for Ransom , who argues that comes from having a range of people in your network – a kind of ‘ personal advisory board ’, as she puts it . Another important factor to note is the quantity of data points obtained at events which make for an interesting look at patterns and helps you to notice trends , she says and welcomes what she terms this ‘ peripheral vision ’. Ransom encourages leaders to think about the way they are learning and work on themselves because that work is never done , she believes . “ All the great leaders that I ’ ve worked with and interviewed over my career are living examples of that . They ’ re still curious , they ’ re still practising , they ’ re still finding ways to challenge themselves , they don ’ t ‘ arrive ’. n
ISSUE 130 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 37