Evergreen Leadership Blog

Change

Would You Rather be Change Managed or Change Engaged?

Make no doubt about it, as change management emerged in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, it was a big step forward. The fact that someone, somewhere in the organization was helping employees through a structured methodology that included awareness, communication, and training began to address the compelling realization that people were most often the “make or break” factor in the success or failure of any change effort.

Yet change management, to me, conveys the ideas of doing something “to” people rather than “with” people. What if the mind-shift changed a bit? From change management to change engagement?

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Leadership

Strategic Storytelling for Business

The notion of telling stories in business is at times a bit suspect – as if telling a story was the same as spreading a falsehood. Or perhaps a bit too frivolous for the “serious” nature of the work we do. Or a bit too theatrical, pushing us well outside our comfort zone.

Doug Stevenson, founder and chief story teller at Story Theater International (and his amazing side-kick and muse, Deborah Merriman) have cracked the code on “strategic storytelling” for business. I had the wonderful opportunity to join three others in a retreat at Doug’s studio recently.

Doug draws heavily on his acting training and Hollywood experience to bring “the magic of storytelling” into a business setting. He breaks down the essential elements of story and teaches how to craft a compelling tale that captures attention and sticks with you for a very long time. Most importantly, he instructs business people in how to make their point using story. For storytelling in business is more than just spinning a good yarn or telling a story to get a few yucks. Much more than that.

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Leadership

Why is Caring the Exception?

Gallop just released the results of a study with Purdue, measuring the degree to which graduates have “great jobs,” through successful and engaging careers, and are leading “great lives,” by thriving in their overall well-being. They distilled their findings into six key college experiences that contributed greatly to well-being. Yet few college graduates that Gallup studied achieve the winning combination. What were the six key college experiences, and what can we do to help them achieve them more often?

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Dynamics

A Minute to Get It: How to Get Your Audience’s Attention and Action

In our last post, Myra Cocca discussed ways leaders can communicate in times of change. Today, I explore a related topic – how to get a share of the attention when people are bombarded with information – at work, home, in the car, and in the community. In a message-saturated world, how do you get someone to read your email, open your letter, spend time on your website, peruse your blog, listen to your presentation – and then take appropriate action?

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The More Leadership Involvement, the Better

Another warning sign is when leaders are absent from a change effort. Yes, they may loudly proclaim, in word and writing, about the change that needs to happen. They may even resource the effort and ask for regular updates. But that is not all of what is needed. Leaders need to show up in visible and tangible ways. Actions speak louder than words.

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