Shoot the Monkey

A few evenings ago, my husband was telling me about one of his college classes 30 years ago. A law of physics was illustrated by dropping a stuffed monkey from a height and shooting it with a dart gun; demonstrating that the pull of gravity on the dart was the same as that on the monkey, regardless of mass. Therefore, the dart could be aimed directly at the falling monkey – not where one expected the monkey to be – letting gravity do the work. Ron recalls this as the “Shoot the Monkey” lesson. How does a professor manage to imprint a specific class lesson on a student in a way that is memorable 30 years later? This is the art and power of storytelling – a valuable principle well learned by all business professionals. When and how are stories well used? FOR PRESENTATIONS: Presentations must always have a clear purpose. Often, they take place for the purpose of influencing or obtaining approval for action. Your story should paint a clear picture of the current situation and need, bring your solution alive, and describe the new world order once your brilliant idea is funded and adopted. Go beyond dry, boring bullets. Use creative graphics and audio to tell your story and provide a lasting memory. AS MARKETING TOOLS: One obvious example of storytelling in marketing is the Case Study. You’ve given me all the specifications and standard marketing pitch about your product; now tell me a real life story of how it worked for someone. That is compelling! Another opportunity is advertising. I’ve always found commercials that tell a story to be the ones I remember. Have you seen the Brinks (now Broadview) Security commercials where they show lifelike scenarios of scary home break-ins? (There's an example at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28o21UFsmO0. ) If I didn’t already have a security system, I would run straight to the phone to order one. In this case, storytelling makes the danger of being unprotected something to which we can relate. IN MENTORING: Sharing career experiences and wisdom through storytelling is a natural tool in mentoring relationships. “When I started my career 20 years ago…”, “I used to have a boss that told me…”, or “I learned that lesson the hard way when I…” could be the beginning of all kinds of true stories about the successes and foibles of work life. They are an effective and memorable way to provide guidance without directly saying, “You should do this…” or “Be sure not to do that…”. When you have an important message to share, remember “Shoot the Monkey” and find a way to create a memorable communication through storytelling.

More Than A Paycheck - A Passion

Recently, there were two deaths in the news that caught my attention and engaged my emotions. One was the passing of Captain Phil Harris, a 54-year old crab fishing boat captain featured on the Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch”. The other, more violent and tragic, was the accidental death of 40-year old Sea World marine biologist and trainer Dawn Brancheau. Both Captain Phil and Dawn Brancheau could probably have avoided their untimely deaths by changing their professions in order to avoid obvious risk. But all accounts are that they loved their work, understood the risks inherent in their professional lives, and wouldn’t have considered abandoning the careers they loved to sidestep danger. Captain Phil Harris, Captain of the Cornelia Marie, was a chain-smoking, sleep-deprived, stressed-to-the max adrenaline junkie. His lifestyle made his health a ticking time bomb. You know he knew all the risks of crab fishing in the Bering Sea; but he faced them headlong, refusing to compromise on how he lived his life. Captain Phil suffered a stroke while offloading a boatload of crab. A few days later, after being able to spend some time with his family and friends, he passed away. Rest in peace, Captain. Dawn Brancheau’s sister, Diane Gross, said about her sister’s drowning by a killer whale, "Words can't describe the loss that we suffered today, but she lived a full life and she lived life to the fullest.” Her family said she aspired to working with killer whales since her first trip to SeaWorld at 9 years of age. The position she held there for 16 years was her dream job, and Dawn was regarded as highly experienced and at the peak of her field. To her husband, Scott Brancheau, and the rest of Dawn’s family – I am so sorry for your terrible loss. We haven’t all experienced the passion for our careers lived by Captain Phil and Dawn. Yet we work hard for long hours over many years, sacrificing time with our families, and stressing our health to move forward and be “successful”. In the memory of those who died doing what they love, let’s all make time to think about how we can change things to be more in love with what we do. Work is more than a means to a paycheck; it’s a big part of personal fulfillment. Don’t settle for less than finding and exercising your passions through your career. Life is too short.

On Tiger's Apology

On Friday, Tiger Woods apologized publicly for his personal transgressions. There have been countless reviews of his “performance”, and I almost hate to add to the fray. But as a communications professional, this is an example that can’t be bypassed without comment. I should disclose that I have been a Tiger fan since before he joined the PGA. I started watching televised professional golf mostly because of Tiger Woods, the phenomenon. His talent, athleticism, poise, and mental toughness have given me reason to admire and cheer him. Tiger’s personal meltdown Thanksgiving weekend was shocking. He had seemed so “perfect”. Record-breaking career, beautiful wife and children, impressive charitable works, and standard-bearer for the PGA… Then he… what? With who? How many? Huh? Ick. As information emerged, it was disorienting and sickening. So it was with great interest and a heavy heart that I watched Tiger’s apology on February 19th. Much media commentary immediately followed. The first two articles I read online completely opposed each other. One described his appearance as a “train wreck”. The other said his apology was “from the heart”. This highlights the fact that the effectiveness of any apology is dependent upon the receptiveness of the audience. I happen to be fairly receptive fan, but also a married woman. Both aspects result in me bringing bias to an evaluation, like anyone else. POSITIVE observations: · Tiger said, flat out, that he was sorry, and that he alone was responsible for his behavior. Both of these are basic requirements for any apology. · He got to the heart of it by saying, “I have made you question who I am and how I could have done the things I did.” Yes, you did. · “I still believe it is right to shield my family from the public spotlight. They did not do these things; I did.” Bravo, Tiger. · He asked for help from people who care about him. NEGATIVES, from my perspective: · Tiger went on the offensive about being “angered” by people thinking Elin may have attacked him. I think expressing anger about people’s reactions was not a smart move. Being upset or dismayed, shocked, or surprised would have been better. I think many of us are angry at Tiger, and don’t feel he has much of a right to feel anger back at us right now – given that he is the one who screwed up and has most hurt his family. · Elin wasn’t there. This was entirely her prerogative. But if his wife hasn’t found a way to forgive him, it makes it harder for us to do so. We women can’t help but think what we would do if this happened to us. Maybe Elin didn’t take a swing at him with a golf club – but I would have. Although some criticized his use of a scripted statement, I completely understand. Tiger went on TV in front of millions of people to humble himself. He knew his every word would be picked apart and evaluated. You don’t want to ad lib in this situation – you want to be prepared. It’s much worse to babble. Remember, Tiger COULDN’T tell us everything we wanted to know. He doesn’t know the answers yet himself.

Cautionary Advice

Imagine this: You have a good management-level job with a stable company. Suddenly, the massive project you have worked on for years grinds to a halt. Your company is the target of a lawsuit filed by a business partner. Your company responds with their own lawsuit. Fortunately, you still have a job. But the discovery phase of the lawsuit has begun, and you are involved. · You are succinctly warned not to dispose of any work product relating to the project. · The legal department has sent someone to collect the notebooks you have with all the handwritten notes you have taken at meetings during the course of the project. Don’t review them or sort them – just hand them over. · A minion from Legal has come to copy project files off the local drive of your workstation, and out of your file drawers. · Email files and shared electronic files have been subpoenaed, and are being retrieved from storage devices. They are being printed and copied for detailed review. · A lot of questions are being asked of you, about exactly what happened over the last few years. How can you remember who said what in meetings that took place months and years ago? · You are identified as a material witness who will be subject to a formal deposition. Lawyers spend days and hours preparing you for the experience. · For several days straight you are in a meeting room with lawyers from each side, a court reporter, and a taping device. Every word you say matters. How you say it matters. It’s stressful and exhausting. · Now you have been subpoenaed to testify in court. Does this sound far-fetched? It’s not. It happened to me 17 years ago when a multi-million dollar project crashed and burned. Fortunately, the case was settled out of court (to the advantage of my employer). For me (not accused of any wrongdoing in the suit), it was a learning experience. What did I learn? BE UNFAILINGLY TRUE TO YOUR PERSONAL ETHICS: It can be hard, when others around you are bending theirs. Always take the high ground, and be noisy about pointing out when others are not. TAKE GOOD FACTUAL NOTES, WITH DATES/TIMES AND EXACT QUOTES: Notes can become evidence. They should be devoid of your opinions and doodling. CONTENT OF WORK EMAIL SHOULD ALWAYS REMAIN PROFESSIONAL: I can’t tell you how much embarrassment some people I know were subjected to, when scores of people were reading their “private” emails. Compose all email as if it might be read by anyone. COMPLY WITH COMPANY POLICIES ON RECORD RETENTION: Throw away what you are not required to keep. If you still have something, it is subject to subpoena – you have no choice. I dodged a bullet years ago. I hope this cautionary advice helps keep you out of the crosshairs.

Be a White Collar Hero

On HGTV’s popular show, Holmes on Homes, Canadian contractor Mike Holmes rescues homeowners from repair and renovation disasters perpetrated by less-than-competent tradesmen. This weekend, I watched several shows back to back, while toiling on our elliptical machine. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this burly blue collar hero right the wrongs of shoddy electrical work, half-hearted carpentry, and unfulfilled project promises. Don’t you just have to love a guy with “MAKE IT RIGHT” tattooed on his bicep? Be still my heart! Mike Holmes and the dedication he has to his chosen blue collar profession got me thinking. When workers aspire to make the move from blue collar jobs into white collar professions, what are they really longing for? Big salaries, long lunches, 2-week vacations, and fancy cars? Is a white collar identity really the ultimate success? There’s no doubt that the white collar executive profile has taken a beating lately, as a result of those who have let their power take them to the dark side. Eliot Spitzer, former governor of NY, was hailed as a hero for how he pursued organized crime – until he was discovered to be a client of a prostitution ring under investigation by the federal government. Bernie Madoff was a trusted stock broker and investment advisor - until his fraudulent Ponzi scheme was uncovered and he was sentenced to 150 years in jail. Former CFO Jeffrey Skilling will be in jail until 2028 for his involvement in the collapse of energy giant Enron. “Feel good” news stories about heroes often seem to be about regular-guy, blue collar types… The guy on the way to work who risks his own safety to save the woman who falls onto the commuter train tracks… The neighbor who runs into a house on fire to rescue an 80-year old in a wheelchair… The sanitation worker who finds and returns a priceless memento mistakenly discarded by its owner. There is a simplicity to the goodness and the rightness of these actions that does not fail to be heartwarming and inspiring. Where are our White Collar Heroes? I know they are out there, although they rarely end up on the TV news. They stand firm against unethical activity in their organizations. They treat employees fairly and care about career growth of others. They challenge the status quo and boldly introduce new ideas. They share their business expertise outside work to make their communities better. I’ve worked with a few of these heroes over the years. I wish there were more. Be a White Collar Hero. Do what’s right every day, and make a difference.

Your Knowledge is Leaking

The Baby Boomer generation is readying for retirement. Some are retiring early or, having found an urgent social consciousness, are abandoning their lucrative corporate positions for more “meaningful” employ. In this weak economic climate, no one seems particularly concerned about their departure. Belt-tightening is the current modus operandi, layoffs are rampant, and the empty positions may be considered merely fewer pink slips to deliver. But what about the expertise, knowledge, and corporate wisdom that has become an inherent element of these human resources? Organizations are “leaking” corporate knowledge. Two years ago when I left my corporate VP position after 28 years with the company, no one showed any interest in knowing what files or other documentation I left behind. They were, however, quite interested in having me sign a legal document stating I wouldn’t take any corporate property out the door with me. I left current operational information with the staff still in place. I also discarded and shredded quite a bit of historical material that I used as references or templates for projects and tasks when I didn’t need to reinvent the wheel. There simply wasn’t time before my departure to try to explain it all. Besides, no one seemed interested. The departure of a single individual does not constitute a corporate tragedy (except, perhaps in the case of a Steve Jobs-type who is almost synonymous with the Apple brand). What amazes me is that I don’t believe corporate senior executives have any idea what information they may or may not be losing as individuals skip blithely out their doors. Certainly this is not a new problem; but with the job-hopping habits of generations following the Baby Boomers, we may be fast-approaching the peak of the issue in our lifetimes. Thoughts about remedies: · Extend documentation policies into better retention and storage practices. · Before the de-rigueur exit interview, have an in-depth, structured conversation with the departing employee to ask about their legacy knowledge and any related documentation they think is vital to the company. · Create a culture where organizational knowledge is clearly valued. · Incent employees to contribute and document key learning for future reference and use. · Employ database and query technology to store and access the information. · Consider having a Knowledge Committee that pursues documentation of critical information. · Establish a Knowledge Officer position to assign clear responsibility to gathering the wealth of knowledge and establishing a method for mining it.

Self-Destruction by PowerPoint

Much has been written about using PowerPoint effectively for presentations. Yet we are relentlessly subjected to Death by PowerPoint by people who throw advice to the wind and insist upon humiliating themselves publicly. If you have the inexplicable urge to follow them like lemmings into the sea, just follow these instructions for Self-Destruction by PowerPoint:

· Cram as many full sentences as possible on each slide, so the presentation can stand on its own. You’re just there to read the slides to the unfortunate illiterate audience. This is an important role, since with all the text on the slide the font is too small for anyone to see anyway.
· Provide printed slides as a handout at the start, so people can get ahead and not have to pay any attention to you standing there at the front of the room.
· Jump right into the material, without stating the purpose of the presentation or giving people any idea how long it will go on.
· The more slides the better! It gives your audience a real rush when they see you are yammering on about slide 3 of 97.
· Be really creative with the use of color and fonts in your slide design. Comic Sans is such a cheerful and professional type face that just screams for primary colors.
· Don’t take up real estate on the slide with interesting and illustrative graphics…you can explain your points better with more words.
· Apply the whole gamut of animated slide transitions in a random manner. It will really keep people’s attention.
· Using other people’s copyrighted material in your presentation shows you have done your research.
· Take pains not to summarize or allow questions at the end, since the audience’s time is valuable and so is yours. The material was perfectly clear.
· Finally, let your PowerPoint creation play the starring role. Speak in a low monotone, speed through the slides (they have the handout for later), avoid eye contact, stand still and don’t use any distracting gestures, and for goodness sake, don’t smile. Presentations are serious business.

Now, get out there and self-destruct, if you must.

© Laurel Anne Bailey 2010

If you found this interesting, you may also enjoy "When Presenting, Know Your Audience:  http://habaconsulting.blogspot.com/2009/09/when-presenting-know-your-audience.html