A survey claims that at an average CEO spends over 90% of his time in working at communicating and inspiring people around him. Accomplished and successful CEOs do this with élan and there CEOs who need to work up and sharpen this edge of their competence.
There are numerous ways to do this and the most important and the most needed way to accomplish this is to talk to people, facilitate thought and inspire action. Here is where you ability to think well, structure thought, connect suavely, engage deeply and influence with authenticity and congruence others needs tuning up and enhancing.
Of all the methods and approaches to connect, engage and influence others the most powerful way to do this is to tell stories. Not just stories that start with ‘Once upon a time..,” but stories that are stylishly crafted, deeply researched, cannily assembled, effectively succinct, powerfully inspiring and stylishly delivered. Stories that can start with “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent...”
Stories claim that Lincoln’s Gettysburg address was regarded as one of the shortest possible speeches made by a President of the United States in those days but it was the most succinct, hit the nail bang on the head and was also awesomely inspiring. Stories also claim that Lincoln spent a lot of time editing and practicing it his mind, while walking on a beach, before he settled with those set of words, that speech structure and that powerful story format to change the direction and history of a great country.
CEOs today in the 21st century can learn from these classic cases and examples and tell stories to inspire.
What happens when you tell a story? When you tell a story, you are handing out concepts and paradigm without indoctrinating and without being overbearing and boorish with details, data and delegations. With stories you are handing out flux and wisdom which listeners can use in any which they want and mould it according to their understanding, according to their needs and yet be able to find common ground between them and you, the CEO.
Stories land upon the psyche of others but grip and move powerfully because the listener participates and takes ownership of ideas, emotions and interpretation that rise out their own being their value systems. Thus, not only do the listeners take ownership but also, subtly and smoothly, make silent commitments to act and be responsible for what is co-created and generated between them and their leader.
This is powerful. This is one of the ways how effective CEOs inspire others.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Four Score and Seven Years Ago
As you grow up the corporate ladder you realise that besides your technical skills and management savvy it is your ability to choose the right people, assign the right jobs and most important of all, it is your ability to inspire people that takes the top credence.
A survey claims that at an average CEO spends over 90% of his time in working at communicating and inspiring people around him. Accomplished and successful CEOs do this with élan and there CEOs who need to work up and sharpen this edge of their competence.
There are numerous ways to do this and the most important and the most needed way to accomplish this is to talk to people, facilitate thought and inspire action. Here is where you ability to think well, structure thought, connect suavely, engage deeply and influence with authenticity and congruence others needs tuning up and enhancing.
Of all the methods and approaches to connect, engage and influence others the most powerful way to do this is to tell stories. Not just stories that start with ‘Once upon a time..,” but stories that are stylishly crafted, deeply researched, cannily assembled, effectively succinct, powerfully inspiring and stylishly delivered. Stories that can start with “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent...”
Stories claim that Lincoln’s Gettysburg address was regarded as one of the shortest possible speeches made by a President of the United States in those days but it was the most succinct, hit the nail bang on the head and was also awesomely inspiring. Stories also claim that Lincoln spent a lot of time editing and practicing it his mind, while walking on a beach, before he settled with those set of words, that speech structure and that powerful story format to change the direction and history of a great country.
CEOs today in the 21st century can learn from these classic cases and examples and tell stories to inspire.
What happens when you tell a story? When you tell a story, you are handing out concepts and paradigm without indoctrinating and without being overbearing and boorish with details, data and delegations. With stories you are handing out flux and wisdom which listeners can use in any which they want and mould it according to their understanding, according to their needs and yet be able to find common ground between them and you, the CEO.
Stories land upon the psyche of others but grip and move powerfully because the listener participates and takes ownership of ideas, emotions and interpretation that rise out their own being their value systems. Thus, not only do the listeners take ownership but also, subtly and smoothly, make silent commitments to act and be responsible for what is co-created and generated between them and their leader.
This is powerful. This is one of the ways how effective CEOs inspire others.
A survey claims that at an average CEO spends over 90% of his time in working at communicating and inspiring people around him. Accomplished and successful CEOs do this with élan and there CEOs who need to work up and sharpen this edge of their competence.
There are numerous ways to do this and the most important and the most needed way to accomplish this is to talk to people, facilitate thought and inspire action. Here is where you ability to think well, structure thought, connect suavely, engage deeply and influence with authenticity and congruence others needs tuning up and enhancing.
Of all the methods and approaches to connect, engage and influence others the most powerful way to do this is to tell stories. Not just stories that start with ‘Once upon a time..,” but stories that are stylishly crafted, deeply researched, cannily assembled, effectively succinct, powerfully inspiring and stylishly delivered. Stories that can start with “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent...”
Stories claim that Lincoln’s Gettysburg address was regarded as one of the shortest possible speeches made by a President of the United States in those days but it was the most succinct, hit the nail bang on the head and was also awesomely inspiring. Stories also claim that Lincoln spent a lot of time editing and practicing it his mind, while walking on a beach, before he settled with those set of words, that speech structure and that powerful story format to change the direction and history of a great country.
CEOs today in the 21st century can learn from these classic cases and examples and tell stories to inspire.
What happens when you tell a story? When you tell a story, you are handing out concepts and paradigm without indoctrinating and without being overbearing and boorish with details, data and delegations. With stories you are handing out flux and wisdom which listeners can use in any which they want and mould it according to their understanding, according to their needs and yet be able to find common ground between them and you, the CEO.
Stories land upon the psyche of others but grip and move powerfully because the listener participates and takes ownership of ideas, emotions and interpretation that rise out their own being their value systems. Thus, not only do the listeners take ownership but also, subtly and smoothly, make silent commitments to act and be responsible for what is co-created and generated between them and their leader.
This is powerful. This is one of the ways how effective CEOs inspire others.
Monday, June 11, 2012
the Appreciative Inquiry way of life
Though this has impacted me several times and through multiple avenues, I can’t seem to be impressed any lesser every time it happens again...the fact that assessing any situation through a proactive stance and doing something concrete about challenges and hopes most often than not generates happy and constructive outcomes.
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I’ve spent the first three months of 2012 working with a bunch of senior executives of a global corporation. In the last quarter of 2011 their sales were down, they were developing lesser new products and people in several of their departments were low on energy and low on engagement. Upon probing deeper and conversing with people at multiple levels we sensed a drop in trust levels amongst the senior management. Though this was barely visible in their behaviours and internal communications, it seems that production, sales and even marketing had read between the lines and gotten a whiff of the underlying tremors. The infliction had spread and was slowing down progress and even routine work.
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We used a combination of strategies and interventions to heal the underlying tremors and discords. Most all of them were first focussed on impressing upon all departments the value of consistent growth through innovation. Followed by small group discussions which were facilitated such to increase personal and corporate alignment. Once the teams and parts of the organization began to understand what needed to be done several creative thinking session were held where cross-functional teams came up with well-defined plans to innovate on people development, process improvement and suggestions on big-picture strategies for growth. Of the scores of plans, a select few will be implemented, deployed.
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The miraculous thing about the whole process was that since the dialogues and discussions were held following the Appreciative Inquiry way of life, the fringe benefits and the by product was increased engagement at all levels of the organization. It may not show on the company’s scorecards yet but the energy levels, the open discussions in the hallways and even the number of hi-five’s seemed to have gone up.
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In the coming months we will still recoup and run surveys on the actual results and numbers but as of now the senior leadership and most all of us involved feel that what has been done has been done for the better and it is bound to have a long-term positive effect.
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Register for an Introductory Workshop on Appreciative Inquiry in India
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I’ve spent the first three months of 2012 working with a bunch of senior executives of a global corporation. In the last quarter of 2011 their sales were down, they were developing lesser new products and people in several of their departments were low on energy and low on engagement. Upon probing deeper and conversing with people at multiple levels we sensed a drop in trust levels amongst the senior management. Though this was barely visible in their behaviours and internal communications, it seems that production, sales and even marketing had read between the lines and gotten a whiff of the underlying tremors. The infliction had spread and was slowing down progress and even routine work.
<>
We used a combination of strategies and interventions to heal the underlying tremors and discords. Most all of them were first focussed on impressing upon all departments the value of consistent growth through innovation. Followed by small group discussions which were facilitated such to increase personal and corporate alignment. Once the teams and parts of the organization began to understand what needed to be done several creative thinking session were held where cross-functional teams came up with well-defined plans to innovate on people development, process improvement and suggestions on big-picture strategies for growth. Of the scores of plans, a select few will be implemented, deployed.
<>
The miraculous thing about the whole process was that since the dialogues and discussions were held following the Appreciative Inquiry way of life, the fringe benefits and the by product was increased engagement at all levels of the organization. It may not show on the company’s scorecards yet but the energy levels, the open discussions in the hallways and even the number of hi-five’s seemed to have gone up.
<>
In the coming months we will still recoup and run surveys on the actual results and numbers but as of now the senior leadership and most all of us involved feel that what has been done has been done for the better and it is bound to have a long-term positive effect.
...<>
Register for an Introductory Workshop on Appreciative Inquiry in India
How to Inspire Like a CEO
Five Quick Tips on How to Inspire Like a CEO:
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Number One: Care and respect others and their perceptions about life and work. Have your opinion, act upon what you choose but honestly and truthfully, at a very deep level, care for and respect all other perceptions.
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Number Two: Be credible and worthy of being in a position to inspire others. Just words and promises do not inspire others. Others are more inspired by who you are and what you do. Words, we all know can be used to dress up windows. It is what lies behind the words and the windows that people usually peep into and go “aha!”
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Number Three: Know how to connect, engage and influence others. The gift of being able to communicate well is not always encoded into our genes but many a times it is an acquired skill. Learn the science and master the art. Practice it often.
......
Number Four: Rouse, enthral and challenge people towards something big and bright. A vision? A hope? A mountain top? Or, for a start, even a million dollars will do.
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Number Five: Catch on fire. Stay lit. Burn! One of my favourite quotes is: “Towards your purpose and your dream, ignite yourself with such passion that people from far and wide will watch you burn!” Inspiring others is about lighting up a fire inside of others_sometimes gently and creatively and sometimes explosively but the fact remains that the fire has to be lit INSIDE of them.
...
Mention this blog and get a free Audio CD on the HeART of Public Speaking when your register for Inspire Like a CEO
......
Number Two: Be credible and worthy of being in a position to inspire others. Just words and promises do not inspire others. Others are more inspired by who you are and what you do. Words, we all know can be used to dress up windows. It is what lies behind the words and the windows that people usually peep into and go “aha!”
.....
Number Three: Know how to connect, engage and influence others. The gift of being able to communicate well is not always encoded into our genes but many a times it is an acquired skill. Learn the science and master the art. Practice it often.
......
Number Four: Rouse, enthral and challenge people towards something big and bright. A vision? A hope? A mountain top? Or, for a start, even a million dollars will do.
.....
Number Five: Catch on fire. Stay lit. Burn! One of my favourite quotes is: “Towards your purpose and your dream, ignite yourself with such passion that people from far and wide will watch you burn!” Inspiring others is about lighting up a fire inside of others_sometimes gently and creatively and sometimes explosively but the fact remains that the fire has to be lit INSIDE of them.
...
Mention this blog and get a free Audio CD on the HeART of Public Speaking when your register for Inspire Like a CEO
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