Top event professionals gathered at Salamander DC last week for an exercise in collective self-reflection that left everyone poised to contribute at a higher leverage at home and work.
While the formula has always been to throw planners and suppliers in a luxury resort for three days, treat them with dignity and care and watch them become best friends, this time we challenged them to rethink a lot of things they may have previously taken for granted.
Salamander DC was the perfect backdrop for these transformative moments. The former Mandarin Oriental just completed a $35 million renovation that included a two-story luxury spa and Dōgon, an Afro-Caribbean restaurant by renowned chef Kwame Onwuachi that was just named one of the 50 best in North America. The resort is near the buzzy Wharf district, downtown attractions and has water views from the rooms and the event lawn.
How to Impose a Positive Order
“Rise Above Order” author Erick Rheam kicked off the reset with an intensive workshop sharing strategies for understanding and managing nonverbal communication. Since 55% of communication is based on body language, spotting the hundreds of nonverbal cues we signal every day could make you a master listener and persuader. The former United States Army Military Police Officer and special investigator in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Europe gifted participants with the tool to wild enhanced communication and influence.
He also shared a powerful secret for flexing personal impact by being an encourager. In a challenging events world, positive motivation spoken to yourself and others can have outsized results.
How You Release What Doesn’t Serve
Paralympian John Register shared his personal story and led and exercise in identifying and eliminating the attitudes that no longer work for our desired lives. “What do you need to intentionally release because it no longer serves the future you’re trying to build?” He asked.
All of these insights were captured by illustrator Sarah Goone from Radiant Eye and attendees sent themselves postcards to remind them of their leadership pledges in case all those good intentions got buried under the flood of emails in returning.
More artistic reconsidering took place as sgraffito instructors brought by Book with Eva led a group paint and scratch activation that opened eyes.
Creativity is the most powerful way to connect to yourself and each other. Even if you don’t consider yourself artistic, when you design an event and solve problems, you are being creative.
Time to Rethink the Convention Center
Forget everything you thought you knew about convention centers. Events DC transformed Walter E. Washington Convention Center into a cherry blossom extravaganza starting with a personalized LED welcome at the entrance and blossom-themed beverages.
Read More: Convention Centers of the Future
The real mind opening came as guests gazed down at the dramatic expo hall where a lighted carpet led to an elegantly set king’s table for a chef’s dinner. An indoor drone show and a command performance by The Experience Band & Show playing DC-style Go-Go music elevated the night even more.
Sometimes more is more.
