CORPORATE STORYTELLING:
Discovering Fire for the Second Time
Vol. 5 Number 1 2005
(c) Clark & Company
2005
“Leaders achieve their effectiveness chiefly through the stories they
relate. By far the rarest individual is the visionary leader. Not content to
relate
a current story or to reactivate a story drawn from a remote or recent past,
this
individual actually creates a new story….”
--Howard Gardner
Author, Leading Minds
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IN THIS ISSUE
1. Four Traits of Great Leaders
2. Top Three Communication Challenges for 2005
3. Around the Corporate Campfire Update
4. Open, Honest Corporate Communications = Commitment
1. Four Characteristics of Leadership
An early issue of “Corporate Storytelling” discussed the impressive
leadership
demonstrated by former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani in the hours and weeks following
the 9/11 World Trade Center attack. We’re pleased to follow up with
his own view of the traits that represent great leadership.
In a recent presentation in Seattle, Guiliani defined the four major characteristics
as:
- Strong beliefs and principles
- Optimism
- Courage
- Relentless preparation
Does that sound like the leaders you’re familiar with
and admire?
Write us with your comments and we’ll share them. Send
your thoughts to evelyn@corpstory.com with “leadership traits” in
the subject line.
2. Top Three Communication Challenges for 2005
According to results of a survey conducted by Melcrum's Strategic Communication
Management journal, strategy and planning is anticipated to be the Number One
communication challenge in the coming year. Close behind are the issues of employee
engagement and change management.
According to 200 communication professionals who responded to the survey,
other
major concerns are executive communication and coaching line and middle managers.
For more information about Strategic Communication Management visit: http://www.melcrum.com/link/scm
3. Around the Corporate Campfire Update
Since our last e-zine, more foreign rights to Evelyn's book, Around The Corporate
Campfire: How Great Leaders Use Stories To Inspire Success. A Chinese publisher
will be releasing the book in upcoming months And will be marketing it in China,
Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Also, another publisher is producing the book for the Russian
market. The book
will be represented at the Frankfurt Book Fair again next Fall, and we’re
expecting more sales to follow.
If you haven't already bought a copy for yourself, you can preview it on Amazon.com,
order it from any bookstore. The most direct way is to buy from the author at
www.corpstory.com or www.aroundthecorporatecampfire.com.
Both
of these sites offer the e-book version as well as the paperback.
If you don't already have a copy of Around the Corporate Campfire, buy
one
today! Learn how some of America's top companies are using stories to convey
values, vision, desired behavior; initiate and manage change; build teams, and
keep everyone on the same page. Become a better leader by modeling your communication
after the CEOs and executives of companies such as Northwestern Mutual, FedEx,
Nike, Costco Wholesale, and 3M.
4. Open, Honest Corporate Communications = Commitment
Events of recent years have only exacerbated the cynicism
of our times, given the continuing reports on the downward
spiral of corporate ethics violations.
It’s easy to think there are few if any companies committed to open
and honest communications with employees.
In an excerpt from her book, "This Isn't the Company I Joined – How
to Lead in a Business Turned Upside Down” (KCS Publishing, 2004), Carol
Kinsey Goman discusses the importance of leveling with employees about
the realities
of the business, even when those realities are difficult to face. She illustrates
her point of view with a case study that clearly demonstrates the willingness
of employees to support their leaders through tough times—and even
to take salary cuts until business turns around. A high level of employee
commitment
Goman
writes, is generated by a management team that is open and honest about business
conditions and that explains the thinking behind tough decisions that are
hard for everyone to accept.
Goman’s articles often appear in the e-zine published
by the Northwest Entrepreneur
Network, which is where a condensed section of her book appeared. The condensed
version can be found at http://www.nwen.org/venturer/0604/article4.htm
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Evelyn Clark, The Corporate Storyteller
Author, Around the Corporate Campfire
t. (Seattle area) 425-827-3998
t. (toll-free) 1-866-818-8079
e. evelyn@corpstory.com
w. www.corpstory.com
