A few years ago, I was invited to the west coast of Norway to facilitate a prestigious leadership conference in an elegant setting. The participants arrived in expensive cars, dressed in fine suits, looking confident and important as they were welcomed with champagne glasses in hand, watching the sunset over one of Norway’s most breathtaking fjords. Some knew each other from before, but most had come to be inspired by prominent names in technology and finance.
The annual gathering had an excellent reputation, but there was one problem. Despite the high professional standards, feedback on networking and social engagement had been declining year after year. Something had to change.
That’s when someone had a “brilliant” idea—to bring me in as a facilitator and speaker on the importance of workplace culture. I was given free rein to use my allotted time however I wished. So, I launched into action in classic SGL style.
I started with a 90-minute workshop, introducing the SGL colors and the power of using the right communication “color” for the right message. The audience listened attentively, though I sensed some were waiting for academic references or expert citations to validate my bold statements.
They weren’t going to get them.
Instead, I asked everyone to stand up and walk around the room with their eyes closed until they bumped into or found two people they had never spoken to before. After about ten minutes, most had settled into small groups, knee to knee, ready for the next step.
Standing on a small podium, I explained the task.
Each participant would:
To set an example, I would go first. The room quieted, and all eyes turned to me touched my head and said,
“Let me start with some blue facts. I’m 61 years old. My name is Jan Petrus Hagberg. I studied theology at the University of Oslo and have worked as a journalist, editor, pastor, and author. At 48, I became a government fellow in leadership and later worked in leadership development for oil companies and various high-tech firms, which is what brings me here today.”
I paused, then placed my hand on my chest
to signal a shift into red, personal heart language, and said:
“What gives me energy is love. Without a hand to hold or someone to embrace, I feel lost. I’ve been divorced and remarried. I have four children from my first marriage. I also love creating—building something new, making something better. And most of all, I find joy in doing good for others.”
The room fell silent. People listened.
Then, I folded my hands over my stomach and said, “What my soul cannot live without is hard to describe. But it’s about retreat, silence and deep reflection, and a belief in something greater than ourselves.”
Something shifted. People thought, some smiled. Many were already preparing their own presentations in their minds.
To solidify the lesson, I grabbed a marker and drew a small symbol on a flip chart—a double cross, representing both the version of myself I had shared and the part of me they could sense between the lines.
“This icon represents me,” I said. “Remember my drawing, and you’ll remember me.”
Then, the room came alive.
Conversations exploded. The once-formal atmosphere dissolved into laughter, animated discussions, and sketches on paper. A rigid, polite networking event had transformed into a dynamic, engaged community. – I felt pure joy.
Hours later, during dinner, the energy was still high. New connections had been made. People were building networks they actually needed.
Following an old SGL tradition, I challenged some participants to summarise the day in a short speech who told:
Their speeches were fantastic. Both I and the conference leadership were pleased. The atmosphere felt promising.
As always, the conference organizers wanted detailed feedback. Each session was scored on academic value, practical usefulness, and presentation.
Then came the surprise.
While the conference venue, structure, and execution received top scores, my session ranked the lowest.
Many participants found it too simple, too unstructured, too unacademic.
The organizers were praised.
I, however, walked away with nothing but a generous paycheck. –
I remembered the words and wisdom of Fritz Peals’ prayer. – That’s how it went. –