Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Being Real

Kudos to my newest client this morning for being bold enough to be real!

She is opening a three-day meeting of her company's division by being real and calling out the 800-lb gorilla in the room. Specifically, there is so much growth and change taking place in the company that, from one day to the next, people barely even know who they report to or what they're working on. Challenging situation, but not surprising given the fast-paced, high-growth industry in which they operate.

By calling it out – and she's doing it in a light-hearted way – she will not only connect with her audience immediately, but she also will earn their trust, respect and, I would suspect, their loyalty. Everyone wins. She establishes herself as a likable, credible leader, and her team members from around the world feel noticed and acknowledged. Great way to start the group meeting; the air is clear, and everyone can focus on the business of moving forward.

Leaders often feel the pressure to motivate by being cheerleaders, pumping up the troops no matter what's happening around them in reality. It's tempting to gloss over the negatives and the distractions. Frankly, it can feel risky to be as open about what isn't working as you are about what is working, but sometimes it's the best thing you can do for yourself and your employees. 

Nothing quite beats honesty and authenticity for winning over an audience.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Thank you, Dr. King!

Today is the perfect day for a reminder about going to 30,000 ft and staying out of the weeds.
  
Dr. King was the master. He said, "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."  He did not say, "We need equal rights and equal access to schools, buses, water fountains, and voting booths for adults and children alike; we need laws to be enacted that protect and promote the future of our people in this nation." Nothing wrong with the second one, but it's not nearly as impactful or memorable as the first. It's all in the why versus what, the message versus the info.

So, in a slightly different twist on honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King, let's all resist delivering laundry lists of items and features when we speak. Instead, let's look at our lists and ask what value or significance or meaning there is in all of our items and features collectively. And then that's the message.

I have a dream indeed.