"Will they realize at some point that I'm not as good as they think I am?" The "Imposter Syndrome", first diagnosed in 1976, describes this fear of being exposed as an imposter. And according to studies, around 70% of managers are confronted with this at least once in the course of their career. An extremely entertaining panel discussion developed in front of over 200 guests at the Aura in Zurich.
Welcome: "Who feels like an impostor?
In their welcoming address, Wirz CEOs Petra Dreyfus and Livio Dainese immediately put some of the high-ranking representatives from business and communications to the test by asking who had ever felt like an impostor in their own role. The vast majority of hands in the room went up, confirming the relevance of the topic.
As a quasi-professional con artist, magician Pat Perry then gave the panel some consolation by convincingly demonstrating that people generally like to be fooled. Beatrice Tschanz, Timm Klose, Stefan Büsser and Dr. Elena Gross then took to the stage together with presenter Mona Vetsch and provided one of the most exciting rounds of talks in the 52-year history of the Wirz Cocktail.
Impostor syndrome as a motivating factor
Significantly, it was difficult to find panel guests on this sensitive topic, mentioned Mona Vetsch, who, with her 10 cm heels at the beginning, outed herself as an impostor in the most direct sense. Beatrice Tschanz, still a highly sought-after communications consultant today and unforgotten for her confident Swissair crisis management, provided many spontaneous bon mots. Among other things, she revealed that she had accepted the job at the airline because the CEO at the time had honestly understated his own communication skills. The recently retired professional footballer Timm Klose spoke openly about the balancing act of the top athlete between a dominant appearance and the difficulty of being booed by 60,000 people every time he touched the ball.
Elena Gross, who is in the process of gaining a foothold in the American market with her company and a new migraine therapy, described the omnipresence of imposture in US culture. She also addressed the positive energy that can arise from the feeling of one's own inadequacy - as a drive and motivation to work even harder on oneself. A thesis that was echoed by successful TV presenter, comedian and entrepreneur Stefan Büsser, who himself - like the other participants - confessed to occasionally "Fake it til you make it" and was urged by Beatrice Tschanz to get more sleep.
Doubt is part of the trade
After the discussion ended to great applause, Petra Dreyfus and Livio Dainese dismissed the guests to the social part of the evening with the pleasant realization that occasional self-doubt is definitely a hallmark of particularly talented and successful people. And that it is probably more pleasant to put up with a few negative social media comments from time to time than to be shouted at by tens of thousands of angry people for a living.
]]>
This year's Wirz Cocktail - the 51st - was dedicated to fun out of conviction. "We live in serious times. What do we actually have to laugh about?" asked Wirz Co-CEO Livio Dainese at the beginning, concluding: "Humor is when you laugh anyway. If you laugh, you take off your armor. Only those who loosen up inside come up with new ideas." And called on all guests to leave their reservations at the checkroom with their coats and jackets. And that was no problem: most of the 300 or so guests put on their red clown noses for the photo.
Petra Dreyfus, Co-Ceo, complimented her colleague Dainese on his sense of humor, even if it is sometimes very surprising, especially in meetings with strangers: "I'm usually glad for Livio's jokes." These have already given many a meeting a whole new direction. The exercise by laughter coach Christian Hablützel, a guest on the podium, in which problems were to be put in the hand and then put away, was also willingly participated in by everyone - although some only smiled gently instead of laughing out loud. Nevertheless, the desired effect was achieved: playfulness makes us more relaxed, releases dopamine and thus brings feelings of happiness.
Playing and laughing to combat stress
Experts who are professionally involved with fun and games populated the Wirz podium at Aura Zurich, moderated by SRF philosopher Barbara Bleisch. Roberto Siano, gamer and psychologist (also a lecturer at the ZHAW), uses games to introduce new employees, for negotiations or innovation tasks. He combines games and fun with business: "As a team leader, I can also start a meeting with a short game, which creates a good framework, but sometimes requires courage," he explained. The game "Three lies, one truth" is such an ice-breaker, which also provides plenty to talk about.
Angela Vögtli from Gamorama Lucerne, a games museum, relies on the power of games: "Kampf gegen das Bünzlitum" or "Arschlochkind" are the names of the games she has developed, which have achieved bestseller status. They rely on humor, which she herself - who grew up without a TV but with a Töggelikasten - also demonstrated on the podium. "I can laugh at myself when things go wrong, like yesterday when I hungrily ordered a pizza to Zurich instead of Lucerne," says Vögtli.
Dominic Deville, who gave up his TV satire show in spring after 150 episodes, is more inclined towards black humor. He admitted on the podium: "Comedians are not necessarily funny people. Humor work is bookkeeping". He still got a laugh when he admitted to having "demolished entire apartments" when losing games. Laughter trainer, clown and laughter yoga coach Christian Hablützel also brought in a serious side: "Laughing and crying are very close together. And there are studies that show that people laugh more in uncertain times."
Playfulness and being silly for well-being
Laughing and playing relaxes and creates a new sense of community - the panel participants agreed on this. And a courageous jump into the colorful ball pool, which some of the guests made active use of, not only brought many laughs, but also provided a feeling of returning to childhood.
]]>
On Tuesday evening, Livio Dainese and Petra Dreyfus welcomed the 300 or so guests to the 50th edition of the Wirz Cocktail with their usual charm. The co-CEOs of Wirz humorously confessed to being the opposite of risk-takers: they still lived in the same canton where they grew up and had both been with Wirz for a long time. But the work with the customers would already be characterized by ventures: Breaking new ground, the courage to take risks. Both live this in their profession. This year's motto was a perfect match: getting a tattoo - live on stage. A short time later, Nicole Pongracz from the SBB actually had herself tattooed live by the tattoo artist Luna during the podium.
Meanwhile, the guests of the panel talk on the stage. These are: Christian Aeby, Priska Amstutz, Bernhard Heusler and Lutz Jänke. All four have dared something in life. The lessons learned: Whoever dares, and does not win, has nevertheless learned something that is valuable for moving forward. That can make you proud. Experience is also a gain. Host Mona Vetsch leads the conversation in a cheerful and relaxed manner.
Finally, all four guests make a statement on the subject of new beginnings: According to Christian Aeby, curiosity is needed to try out new paths. Priska Amstutz contrasts small needs for security with a great willingness to take risks. Lutz Jäncke advocates avoiding boredom. Otherwise the brain breaks down. And according to Bernhard Heusler, it needs the greed for something new.
After the podium and during the Apero Riche, two Wirz jokers hand out inspiration cards that invite you to step out of your comfort zone. Tip on my card: Learn a Tiktok dance by heart and film yourself doing it! You can also get a tattoo at the Apéro Riche afterwards. An inspiring evening.
It has been a very special year. In a communiqué issued by the Wirz Group on Tuesday, it was said that it would have an impact that even today cannot be imagined. The 50th edition of the Wirz Cocktail will therefore be postponed until next year.
The group justifies the postponement of the event with the currently too unclear situation. The protection of guests and employees is simply too important. As soon as more details are known about the new date in 2021, the Wirz Group will provide information.
Moderated by SRF presenter Julian Thorner, the GLP politician Chantal Galladé, Zattoo founder Bea Knecht, former ski world champion Daniel Albrecht and former "Nachtwach" presenter Barbara Bürer took to the podium that evening to discuss the topic "Klar zum Wenden - Weil das Leben keine Gerade ist" ("Clear to turn - because life is not a straight line").
The panelists' contributions ranged from light-hearted anecdotes to very personal accounts of how differently people deal with making decisions.
Of self-chosen changes of direction and unexpected strokes of fate
Chantal Galladé, who has made a change of direction par excellence by switching from the SP to the Green Liberals, knew how to entertain the audience, as did IT entrepreneur Bea Knecht, who described herself as a walking Google A/B test due to her past as a man and earned many laughs for this.
The same goes for Daniel Albrecht, who impressed the audience with his account of the time after his serious fall on the legendary Streif and his fight back to life. Last but not least, former "Nachtwach" host Barbara Bürer proved that she is not only a good listener, but also has a lot to tell. For example, she talked about the homesickness for Switzerland that plagued her as an editor of the weekly newspaper "Zeit" in Hamburg at the time, or about how she thought she was already in Wimbledon as a talented young tennis player.
The guests bid farewell to the panelists with much applause. At the subsequent aperitif in the "Aura", there was still a stimulating exchange between the panelists and the audience.
More exclusive pictures of the editorial team for the Wirz Cocktail 2019 can be found in the Who's Who of the Advertising Week 11-12/2019.
We can't escape them, the missionaries: In the social media, views, tips and appeals pelt at us every second, telling us how we could improve our lives and the world. No topic is too niche not to be elevated to the status of religion - even if it's the question of whether the racing bike should be slowed down with rim or disc brakes.
"If we are convinced of something, then we also want those around us to get on the right track," mused co-CEO of Wirz Communications and passionate cyclist Livio Dainese in his introduction to the 48th Wirz Cocktail, which attracted over 300 guests from the communications industry to Zurich's Aura on Tuesday evening. However, he said, this was done less out of charity and more as a way to help: People are grateful for rules to help them find their way in this increasingly complex world - that is the point on which all participants in the panel discussion led by Mona Vetsch agreed.
Out of love for neighbor or self?
Even the former punk and current SRF latenight talker Dominic Deville made the experience as a kindergarten teacher that anarchy is not even really fun for the original anarchists - children - whereupon he developed into the "strictest kindergarten teacher in central Switzerland".
Rolf Hiltl sees the reason for the development of opinion on the mission primarily in the sudden reach through Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat. His own mission could simply be called Hiltl: He cleverly made the in-house guacamole from peas - his veggie company could no longer stand behind the global avocado business - the topic again and again.
Journalist and digital consultant Hansi Voigt may be called the "messiah of media digitalization," but he would actually like to preach for a cultivation of boredom, as he confessed toward the end of the lively discussion. Lauren Wildbolz, leading figure of the Swiss veganism movement, charmingly stands by her mission: she wants to sensitize people to their responsibility as consumers. Because this sudden reach should be used for something positive.
It's quite possible that one or the other gratefully declined the meatballs at the subsequent aperitif - not without sharing it on social media with #fleischlosglücklich #machmit, of course.
Should I really do that? Is this really a good idea? Won't it go down the drain? "Why not?", the theme of the 47th Wirz Cocktail, is actually an answer to questions of the doubting variety, as Livio Dainese, Co-CEO of Wirz Communications, revealed in his introductory talk on Tuesday evening at Aura am Paradeplatz. Good advertising is not possible without this "Why not?" because otherwise you don't produce anything outstanding, he explained to exactly 361 guests from the media, marketing and business.
"I think it takes more trial and error if you want to turn the world, or at least an industry, upside down instead of improving yourself to death. After all, who gets excited about me-too solutions, even in communications?" he added, pointing to prominent failures such as Isaac Newton, Steve Jobs and Oprah Winfrey, before Petra Dreyfus, the other half of the new team at the helm of Wirz Communications, introduced this year's panel.
There, to the left and right of SRF presenter Mona Vetsch, sat Zurich City Mayor Corine Mauch, FDP party president Petra Gössi, life coach and blogger Kafi Freitag, ETH President Lino Guzzella, and Uber's former general manager for German-speaking countries Rasoul Jalali, discussing courageous decisions and "just do it".
"I live very much according to the trial-and-error principle," said, for example, the city president, formerly active as a sinology student and waste officer for the city of Uster, among other things. "I do what convinces me. I have never pursued a grand plan." Lino Guzzella, the son of Italian immigrants who only learned German at the age of six, had a similar experience: "No one would have bet that I would one day become president of ETH. My parents didn't even know what ETH was."
Kafi Freitag found the right closing words: "On your deathbed, no one deals with failure. But only with all the things you didn't dare to tackle," said the well-known publicist, whose name already bears the "Why not? There is no clearer way of encouraging people to be more courageous. The discussion about "Trial and Error", "Why?" and "Why actually not?", which was stimulated by the panel, was deepened afterwards during the cocktail riche.
The 45th Wirz Cocktail, which was held under the motto "Such a coincidence: How likely is the improbable?", will go down in the history of the Wirz Group's traditional autumn event as the best-attended so far. The "AURA" in downtown Zurich, chosen for the first time for this purpose, proved to be the perfect venue and the hosts also seem to have done many other things right once again.
Under the direction of the brilliant SRF presenter Mona Vetsch, psychologist and columnist Peter Schneider, Monika Bütler from the University of St. Gallen, Mercedes-Benz Switzerland CEO Marcel Guerry and Green Liberal Group leader Tiana Angelina Moser discussed, joked and fabulated. The latter was able to entertain with amusing anecdotes about voting behavior in the Federal Parliament. The biggest laugh of the evening, however, was provided by the usual sharp-witted Peter Schneider, who expressed surprise in this context that in Bern, before important votes, one or the other politician is apparently "locked in the toilet.
"When it comes to choosing a theme, we don't usually leave anything to chance. This year we did. It worked out well," said Wirz Group CEO Geri Aebi, host of the evening, in his usual trenchant brief introduction to the topic.
Following the panel discussion, the invited guests had the opportunity for personal exchange during the aperitif. It is not known to what extent the groups that emerged were "chance acquaintances". It is all the more certain that the "coincidence" provided enough conversation material for a long, enjoyable evening.
Our subscribers will find more pictures of the event in the current print edition of Werbewoche on Friday, November 20.