Story of Leadership

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009

"Leadership is all about the actions of the "tribe". For centuries, people have been gathering under the light of the moon, to tell their stories. This simple way of hanging out, creates community, a sense of belonging, a forward motion in life. Leaders who pay attention to the role of "their tribe's stories", are the ones who stimulate commitment. Isn't that what the water cooler theory is all about?"

LTB: We Tell the Story

Part 1: All about you

For centuries, a full moon has been the inspiration for gathering around to tell each other stories. That’s how tribal legends have begun, how we learn about the wisdom of our elders, how communities and organizations are born.

Our focus this month is on lifelong learning. Perhaps you’ve noticed the tie-in of this key leadership skill to “story telling”. Stories create a context for learning and discovery. They stimulate forward motion.

Leaders who can explain what is happening in their organizations with passion, interest and a crisp learning point, are the ones who shape lifelong learning in their organizations. Leaders who speak with emotion are the connectors.

Your Community Action Project story on Thursday – your 15 minutes of fame – can be whatever your group decides it to be. Just tell it with passion. Tell it like it is. Put life into it. Help the rest of us understand what you are learning, discussing or perhaps not clear about. What’s causing confusion, frustration? What are the community connections and assets really about?

Remember, you’re telling a story, not giving a report.



Stories have an emotional base first, and the facts become the proof.

Here are some phrases to help you tell a powerful story:

1. A Stand: “The future I stand for is…”
2. Defining Moments: “An event that made me see this as an important mission for me is…”
3. Bold Goal: “I am committed to having _____ in place by ____”
4. Painting the Future: “An exciting example of what I’m thinking is…”
5. Sticky messages: “I want to tell you the story of Allie, my daughter who died last year waiting for her lung transplant…”
6. “Heroes and Heroines: “Let me tell you about a person who you should talk to and work with…”
Source: Leaderspeak: Georgia Health Policy Centre. Karen Minyard PhD Director. 2008


Note: See last week’s blog for Doug Stevenson’s story telling tips.


Part 2

Speaking of Reports: All about excellence

To celebrate its first 5 years, Leadership Thunder Bay decided to tell its story in print. Packaged in a polished blue and green booklet and written with panache, LTB’s story is now more than a souvenir for those of us who have been involved through its birth and growth.

Did you know that this leadership story is an award winner?

MEDIA RELEASE
5-Year Report to Community Wins International Award

Leadership Thunder Bay is proud to announce that its 5 –Year Report to
the Community received a 2008 Gold MarCom Award.

The MarCom Awards is an international competition for marketing and communication professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of marketing and communication programs and print, visual and audio materials. Entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers.

The Gold Award was presented to the City of Thunder Bay under the Pro Bono category for the work done by Karen Lewis and Valerie Marasco, Past Communications Committee Co-Chairs, along with support by Clara Butikofer, former Managing Director, and Korkola Design for the graphic design work in creating the 5-Year Report to the Community.

MarCom Awards is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. The international organization consists of several thousand marketing, communication, advertising, public relations, media production and free-lance professionals. The Association, based in Arlington, Texas, oversees awards and recognition programs, provides judges and sets standards for excellence.

Judges are industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry. There were over 5,000 entries from throughout the United States, Canada and several countries around the world in the MarCom Awards 2008 competition. Winners were selected from over 200
categories in seven forms of media and communication efforts- marketing, publications, marketing/promotion, public service/pro bono, creativity and electronic/interactive.

The competition has grown to perhaps the largest of its kind in the world. A look at the winners shows a range in size from individual communicators to media conglomerates and Fortune 500 companies. The competition is so well thought of in the industry that national public relations organizations, local ad clubs, and local business communicator chapters are entrants.
For more information visit www.marcomawards.com


WOW!

If you look closely at the 5 year report, you’ll notice that it is a “whole brain document”. Strategically speaking, it’s a way to leverage the future by reporting on the past.

“Strategic leadership” – says Sir John Hoskyns (in Chapter 19 of The Whole Brain Business Book – reminder that this is part of your readings this month!) … requires the readiness to look personally foolish; a readiness to discuss half-baked ideas, since most fully baked ideas start out in that form; a total honesty; a readiness to admit you got it wrong.” Stories are strategic.

All You Have to Do is…Ask

Finally – to be an award winner takes more than one point of view, as Karen and Valerie well know. Leaders are confident in asking for input or help – so if you need me, all you have to do is call.

See you for Brad’s – and your – stories on Thursday!

- Maggie