The two words that hold us back:

Comfort Zone. Most of us would like to hang out there. Sounds cozy and safe, right? Actually, it’s blocking your professional trajectory and holding you hostage to stale ideas. You are not alone. It’s natural to avoid the unfamiliar and put off what scares us – from an early age, we’re taught to avoid risk and play it safe. Do any of these common aphorisms resonate with you?

• If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
• Don’t rock the boat.
• Better safe than sorry.

When it comes to the competitive business environment, it’s time to retire these old adages – they no longer apply. Blindly accepting conventional wisdom and maintaining the status quo doesn’t cut it, especially when it comes to planning corporate meetings – unless you want to be left behind in the dust.

Of course, it might be easier and (seemingly) safer to replicate last year’s event- after all, this is the way you’ve always done it, and if it ain’t broke… But think twice before you hit your default comfort zone button. In today’s rapidly evolving meeting world, safe equals boring. Boring results in dismal conference attendance and disengaged participants, which in turn leads to…you get the picture.

So here’s the one word that will change everything:

Risk. Uh oh. That dreaded word may very well make the little hairs on the back of your neck stand up – it’s a word that signals danger and evokes fear. Taking a risk means trying something new. It forces you to step out of your comfort zone and dive into uncharted waters. There are no guarantees and you face the possibility of failure. Scary stuff.

But think of the possibilities!

Who says your meeting room has to be set up classroom/theater/conference style in a traditional venue? Wouldn’t clusters of round tables and comfy chairs in unique lounge spaces inspire more creative brainstorming?

Instead of a windowless banquet room, picture an interactive cirque dinner theater experience in a Spiegel tent reserved just for your group. How about adding a little fun to the agenda with team-building activities like rock climbing or a ropes course (wait for the twist) … in the middle of the ocean?

Here’s a novel idea - have your attendees drive to their meeting venue and wake up in a different destination every day. Of course, we’re talking about meeting at sea, and while it is a radically different experience from your tried-and-true land-based events, it’s worth stepping outside your comfort zone. There is plenty of evidence that cruise events can save you money, generate excitement, and create memorable experiences for all.

So if you want to play it safe, by all means, reject new and risky ideas. But at the same time, you’re pushing back any possibility of brilliance. In the words of the late American composer, John Cage: ”I can’t understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I’m frightened of old ones.”

Time to replace those tired old adages with this pithy new one: You grow or you go.

About the author: Josephine “Jo” Kling is President, Landry & Kling Cruise Events and Founder/CEO of Seasite.com, the first consolidated cruise site for meeting professionals.

Filed under: Meeting & Incentive News, Miscellaneous