
The Storyteller's Advantage BLOG
Every month, you will find a number of concise and provocative posts for business leaders. These posts will arm you with actionable insights, giving you a shot of inspiration that you can use to create the change you seek in your world!
Years ago, one of my clients asked me "What is the ONE thing that holds back business people, entrepreneurs and business owners alike, from attaining success?" Wow - 1 thing. I pondered this a moment and soon realized the core element to it all.. and that one thing is…
Discover how positively prevailed in a PEI drive-in theatre after a severe thunder and lightning storm that caused significant damage across the island.
Discover how story can change the world through the reflection of 5 speakers at the recent Conscious Capitalism Conference I attended in Philadelphia..
Discover 10 key ways to being a high performing changemaker and the one that really stood out to me.
I was reviewing my notes that I created from High Performance Academy this weekend and reflecting on St Patrick's Day. Here's what I came up with...
When I reflect on my past corporate life and the numerous documents and reports my team and I created, I recognize that the most effective pieces were definitely not the lengthy documents in size 10 font of black letters on a white background. No. The effective pieces were the ones that leveraged the power of visual communications.
Lately, I have observed many “change efforts” attempting to capture support of their targeted audience through some of the more traditional ways such as sharing policy after policy that limit success or sharing data upon data. And through it all, I see that their targeted audience is not getting past the second sentence they share.
Last week, I had notable experiences with 3 different suppliers. And, in one instance, I ended up serving as a business consultant to the owner. More on that in a minute, but first, let me briefly recap these stories with you…
I’ve done much reflection over the past months, on what worked and what didn’t with the change efforts I led in the last twelve years I spent in Corporate Canada. Consistently, each time I recall us making a big impact, it was when we had a great story that engaged our target audience...From all my reflection and studies, I see 3 key reasons why storytelling is fundamental for driving change...
As changemakers, we can leverage the beginning of the new year as an opportunity to ponder our best path forward. How do we best do this? I propose we start by...
At the end of the calendar year, many of us are frantically preparing for the holiday season and working overtime with increased business duties, annual events and performance reviews. That said, to me it's the perfect time for change agents to leverage this “natural” cycle of year-end to create leverage for their change effort. The question is, how?
In Canada on this day, we take a moment in silence to remember those who stood for change and fought for the independence of our country. I am humbled for all the freedoms and luxuries that we enjoy each day as a result of our ancestors’ efforts, that we take for granted.
At this time of year, it’s natural for us to experience gratitude for all that we have in our lives....As I reflect during this Thanksgiving Day season, I question whether or not I, as a change maker, sufficiently share my gratitude to team members, colleagues, suppliers and even myself.
As some of you may know, I had the great opportunity to work for a leading Canadian telecom for more than twenty-five years. I had the opportunity to be mentored by some of the best in the industry, including on how to create customer loyalty and the connection between employee engagement and customer following and financial performance of a company. It was a Canadian “Top 100” Employer with great people and it afforded me many great opportunities for which I am grateful.
Recently I attended a leadership development conference where many great speakers and authors shared their secrets on what it means to be a visionary leader. One of the key takeaways for me from the event came from Navy Seals Commander, Rorke Denver. Denver is known for his role as Lieutenant Rorke in the 2012 film "Act of Valor" and for his appearance as team leader in the Fox Television series, "American Grit."
I recently attended a leadership development conference where pastor and author, Andy Stanley, was one of the opening speakers. His core message was equally applicable to all leaders, including CEO's, politicians and those seeking to drive change within their organizations.
I believe business needs to be different and that a movement is already afoot. You and I are at the forefront of this movement. People across the globe say it is time for positive change. And no matter which way we look at it, our world is calling for help - for more positive, sustainable living on Planet Earth for its inhabitants.
Recently I attended a local symphony concert and through the beautiful interpretation of some of Tchaikovsky's finest, it got me thinking of who was actually telling the story that was unfolding before my eyes. I considered:
When we think of business, immediately we think of profit -- its like those two concepts are inter-exchangable. It's as if the primary purpose of any business is solely profit and often the more the better.
As I took my walk this sunshiny summer morning at Wascana Lake here in Regina, Saskatchewan, I came across a few historical plaques and stopped to read them. I walked/jogged past this spot hundreds of times, but today was different as the messages there stopped me in my tracks....