Leadership for Student Activities - March 2015, NHS & NJHS Edition - (Page 16)

Shrink Your Credibility Gap Student leaders can use these guidelines to overcome skepticism and increase participation in events N O R M H U LL 16 LEADERSHIP FOR STUDENT ACTIVITIES few years ago I was hired to present at a state leadership conference. The invitation had come through the speaking bureau that, at the time, was responsible for handling the details of my speaking requests: hotel room, set-up, and directions to the speech location. When the details were secured, they'd forwarded a contract to me for approval. For this particular program, the contract stated that I'd be staying in a hotel with limited services. A full-service hotel includes, among other things, Internet service, on-site restaurant facilities, and a fitness center. When traveling for speaking engagements, I usually arrive the evening before, eat in the hotel, catch up on emails, and exercise to reduce the stress of travel. It was the responsibility of the bureau to make the client aware of my desires before selecting housing. That didn't happen in this instance, and the client selected a hotel that, based on past experience, I believed did not meet my minimum needs. I let the bureau know that everything else was fine but asked that they select another hotel. The request was passed along, the change made, and when I arrived on site, I checked into a full-service hotel. Upon arriving at the speech site, the client asked me if the hotel was acceptable. Not thinking much about the question, I replied in the affirmative. Imagine my surprise when, after giving my presentation and leaving the conference, I drove past the original hotel that they'd selected. It was a brand new property, unlike any of its sister hotel properties in other locations. Without going inside, I could tell that my needs would have easily met by this property. A few days later, a speaking colleague at the same conference told me that the meeting planner had been taken aback by my request for a hotel change. I explained my reasoning to my colleague, but the damage to my credibility had already been done. If the bureau had

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Leadership for Student Activities - March 2015, NHS & NJHS Edition

Editor's Note
Questions & Answers
Take Note
From the Director
Rise to the Challenge
Shrink Your Credibility Gap
Ward off Compassion Fatigue
Middle Level Activities
Scholarships & Awards
Lessons for Leaders
Activites Exchange
Things to Do

Leadership for Student Activities - March 2015, NHS & NJHS Edition