Best of Inspiration from Exec Women in Govt Conference

I had the pleasure and privilege of speaking at the Executive Women in Government conference yesterday. There were about eight speakers - all powerful and inspiring leaders - and their messages seem to come together in a wonderful call to action. The post I did on Relevancy, Vibrancy, and Legacy shared the main points of my contribution. Here are a few of the more memorable bits of wisdom from the other speakers:

• We live in a new era of complexity and we need to face what we have to do. Our movements must change, too (referring to previous movements that catalyzed change).
• The importance of doing what you love. That we can all engage in unlocking the mysteries of the universe (or our communities, families, organizations).
• "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Eleanor Roosevelt
• We must all fight to reduce tunnel vision, fragmentation, and silo-ization in our organizations as this is what causes big problems and serious collapses.
• We need to consider the need to change the DNA of what we do on a daily basis.
• Veteran White House reporter Helen Thomas wowed me when she said she still stays up at night thinking about how to ask the questions that will "get them" to share what they don't want to. At over 90 years old, she is still more proactive than many of us!!
• Leaders need to reconnect people with their purpose.
• We need to learn how to package stories so that people can learn from them (communicate so that our message is received as intended).
• If we don't set the bar high, we won't go anywhere.
• The next generation is HERE and deserves our support, coaching, mentorship.
• If we provide people with different experiences, we can change their perspective.
• It is always easier to break something down than it is to build it up.

And overall, I was energize to hear about all the great thinking and passion going on in the federal government. Washington DC has several sides. Many people only know the side they see on CNN and other news channels - the politics, the divisiveness, the 1000 page bills weighed down with hundreds of unrelated pet projects and promises, the bickering and name calling. Underneath this loud layer of partisan elected officials is a large infrastructure of dedicated, smart, and hard working career public professionals who are passionate about making the U.S. a better country for everyone. They have to zig and zag with each administration and after major legislative changes - and most do it without losing their faith, hope, and drive. Partnering with them are thousands of non-profit organizations and consulting firms who know it is worth getting through the inevitable red-tape to work with the government on projects and initiatives that make a difference. This is the vibrant D.C. that I really enjoy working with and around.

P.S. - I loved it when Cokey Roberts responded to a question about the challenge of finding balance and the downside of wanting to do it all. She basically blasted the notion that we can't try to be superwomen and supermen - and she invtied us all to get a bit tougher. Roberts writes about early women leaders in American history and says they had it much harder than we do now. She suggested we embrace "moments of balance." She also encouraged all leaders to do what it takes to make the workplace a more family friendly place. And these two ideas are NOT contradictory.

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