One of the most memorable business trips abroad was my first visit to the UN in Geneva. To the magnificent Palais des Nations close by Lake Lausanne.
Just before I set off for the four-day trip I was invited, in addition to the three days’ training, to deliver a keynote presentation to UN staff. The aim was to motivate staff into improving their websites.
I was delighted and flattered to be asked and happily agreed. I expected a dozen or so managers to attend an informal meeting timed for the end of the first day.
Imagine my surprise when I learned that the Geneva-based Secretary-General had emailed the staff encouraging them to attend the event.
When the time came, a handful of people milled into the very large hall, but it wasn’t before long when there were about 200 people sitting at three tables running the length of the huge theatre at right angles to the main platform and lecturn.
I was warmly welcomed, and as soon into my prepared PowerPoint presentation which was being projected onto a cinema-sized screen above my head. I gather my words (in English) were being simultaneously translated to earpieces worn by some of the audience.
Happily I was generously received and there was much nodding of heads. They then engaged me with questions, with a suitable delay for interpretation at the end. But all went well.
In retrospect I wondered whether it was such a wise tactic to be (albeit constructively) critical of the webwork of such an august organisation. Especially when there were armed guards at the gate which would have rendered impossible a hasty exit from a hostile audience!