Business Speakers in Australia Last Week

I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Melbourne, Victoria--Australia last week.  Where I work by day, we are members of several buying groups.  This trip was to Plumbing Plus University.  A time each year for plumbing and bathroom supply companies to gather together for professional development and networking.  

All the speakers this year were very good.  First was Simon Kuestenmacher.  His talk was on the present and future of Australia by the numbers.  As a Gen Xer, I was interested in learning the outlook on my demographic X, my wife's Y, and my younger children as Z and α .  Simon, co-founder of The Demographic Group with partner Bernard Salt, was dynamic, well researched, and interesting.  

Next up was Steve Simpson dealing with workplace culture.  His presentation focused on UGRs--unwritten ground rules.  Simpson says:

Most of us have been to a meeting where, upon conclusion, the real meetings begin. Typically, people reconvene in smaller groups to canvass a range of issues that can include displeasure at a decision that has been made, lamenting the attitudes of one or more people who were at the meeting, or planning a strategy to work around a particular outcome.

It’s often the case that those most vocal after the meeting are least likely to have spoken up during the meeting.

So what’s causing this?

We propose that it is the UGRs – or unwritten ground rules – that drive people’s behaviour in organisations. UGRs are defined as people’s perceptions of ‘this is the way we do things around here’.

Read more about UGRs here.  

Last up was Colin James, of The Colin James Method. His talk on performance and engagement was contwent rich, well presented, and one every company needs to hear.  This is a man whose message resonates with a person like me.  I have been in business leadership for 30 years now.  I am a lifelong learner, driven by a passion to transform every business I am affiliated with into the high performing championship team.  

Sample Colin's work here.  He is great.