KEYZINE: An e-zine for LEADERS:
ABOUT THE PEOPLE PART OF
BUSINESS
Volume
81, December 2007
Publisher: © Key Associates, 2007
ISSN #
1545-8873
http://www.mkkey.com/
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This Issue: "Inspirational Speaking"
Contents:
PAINTING THE FUTURE IN WORD PICTURES.
WEAVING VALUES INTO COMMUNICATION.
PERSONALIZING COMMUNICATION.
PRACTICING THE ART OF STORY-TELLING.
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MAINTAINING YOURSELF AS A
LEADER
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How many times have you died a death by PowerPoint
or spreadsheet, in front of a corporate audience?
Your intention may have been to inform and call
to action, get people to work together or lead
people into the future. And it fell flat.
Next time, perhaps you decided to hire a professional--
a motivational speaker of sorts--to deliver your message.
You are missing the powerful language of leadership.
The ability to first engage your audience, and then,
transport them to another place and time, another
frame of mind. Now is the time to awaken your own
ability to ignite the human spirit of the individual
and inspire the organization as a whole.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
*************************************
How do I address masses and still make it personal?
By first making a personal connection, then presenting the facts.
The essence of good story-telling, according to
Toastmasters,
is memorization in pictures so that you can relay the story in
pictorial terms. Then through tempo, rhythm, inflection, pause,
and volume, you build a state of deep listening, as the audience
identifies with the protagonist and lives out the characters' lives
(Deal & Key, 1998).
What are some of the talents of great
inspirational speakers?
The wise speaker attends to the needs and general
feelings of
the audience. To be truly inspirational, the speaker must show
the audience that their collective self-interests coincide with
noble motives. The speaker is aiming first for the heart.
The speaker's language is incorporative--use of
"we" emphasizes unity.
Playing on nicknames and cultural code words reinforces membership
in the community. Authenticity and humanness place the speaker
on the audience's level. Appropriate use of humor relaxes the
listener.
The speech content contains verbal pictures, stirring words, and
metaphors
that tap the imagination and breathe life into the ideas.
I'm not an inspirational type. How can I be authentic?
You can only speak your own truth.
Improve your powers of observation
and listening and playing back. Adopt stories that touch you.
If
something stirs you, chances are good that it will inspire others.
Retell a story, leaving it better than it was before.
Involve your audience. Try to move from monologue to
dialogue
to authentic conversation. People cannot argue with their own
truth.
The spontaneity lends itself to authenticity.
EXERCISES:
*
Create
a celebration event, that invites others to story-tell
around a theme. Portray and celebrate your history, strengths
and victories with customers and employees.
* Build a story with your
audience. You start it and hand it
off to the next person, who builds on it and hands it off again.
* If the stories going around in your organization are
negative and cynical, counter them with stories in
a style and tone which allows people to learn, to
feel hope and pride, to see solutions and values in action.
**************************************
EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES
**************************************
Use these sites
to further develop your speaking
skills:
http://humanresources.about.com/od/presentations/Presentations_Speaking_to_Groups_Keynotes_Motivational_Speeches.htm
Introduction to motivational speaking
http://ezinearticles.com/?An-Introduction-to-Motivational-Speaking&id=69304
Dale Carnegie Training
http://www.dalecarnegie.com/
Find meeting locations for Toastmasters
http://www.toastmasters.org/
Key Associates offers a Leadership Development
course, which encompasses story-telling as a
preferred mode of communication.
http://www.mkkey.com/courses2/LeadershipCourse.htm
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OTHER
USEFUL
WEBSITES
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Famous
inspirational speeches
http://www.capcess.com/3/inspirational-speech.html
Links from Empowerment Magazine
http://empowermag.com/Motivational_Speeches.cfm?pt=2&sp=2&vid=1199027422_2X02X602688011&rpt=1&kt=4&kp=5
Use "You Tube" for airing of your
Motivational speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdK_e1n3OZE
Free articles for effective, assertive communication
http://www.drdilip.com/articles.htm
Former Keyzines on related topics:
Volume 20, November
2002 - Speaking from the Heart
Volume
24, March 2003 - The Leader as Storyteller
Volume 26, May
2003 - Creative Expression
Volume 30,
September 2003 - Effective Listening
Volume 60, March
2006 - The Power of Vision
**************************************
ARTICLES/PUBLICATIONS
**************************************
Armstrong, David M. Managing by Storying Around,
Armstrong International, 1992.
Brown, John Seely, Stephen Denning, Katalina Groh,
& Laurence Prusak. Story-telling in Organizations:
Why Storytelling Is Transforming 21st Century
Organizations and Management. Butterworth-Heinemann,
24.
Campbell, Joseph & Bill Moyers. The Power of Myth.
Anchor, 1991.
Clark, evelyn. Around
The Corporate Campfire:
"How Great Leaders Use Stories To Inspire Success".
C & C Publishing, 2OO4.
Deal, Terrence E. & M. K. Key. Corporate
Celebration:
Play, Purpose and Profit at Work. Berrett-Koehler, 1998.
Denning, Stephen. The
Leader's Guide to Storytelling:
Mastering the Art and Discipline of Business Narrative.
Jossey-Bass, 2OO5.
DePree, Max. Leadership is an Art. Currency, 2OO4.
Fulford, Robert. The Triumph of Narrative:
Storytelling in the Age of Mass Culture.
Broadway Books, 2001.
Kouzes, James S. & Barry Posner. Credibility:
How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People Demand It.
Jossey-Bass, 1995.
Lipman, Doug. Improving Your Storytelling:
Beyond the Basics for All Who Tell Stories in
Work or Play (American Storytelling). August
House Publications, 1998.
Matusak, Larraine R. Finding
Your Voice: Learning
to Lead . . . Anywhere You Want to Make a Difference.
Jossey-Bass, 1997.
Simmons, Annette. The Story Factor: Secrets of
Influence from the Art of Storytelling. Perseus
Publishing, 2000.
Slutsky, Jeff, Michael Aun, & Toastmasters
International.
Toastmaster's
International Guide to Successful Speaking:
Overcoming Your Fears, Winning over Your Audience,
Building Your Business & Career. Dearborn Trade, 1996.
Please check our Back Issues:
Volume 1, April 2001- Leadership
Volume 2, May 2001- Innovation
Volume 3, June 2001- Coaching
Volume 4, July 2001- Change
Volume 5, August 2001 - Spirit at Work
Volume 6, September
2001 - Stress
Reactions to Terrorism and Major
Disasters
Volume 7, October 2001 - Mediating Conflict
Volume 8, November 2001 - Keeping Customers
(Volume 9 - A survey for subscribers only)
Volume 10, January 2002 - Meetings
Volume 11, February 2002 - Teams
Volume 12, March 2002 - Facilitation
Volume 13, April 2002 - Trust & Integrity
Volume 14, May 2002 - Learning Organizations
Volume 15, June 2002 - Motivation
Volume 16, July 2002 - Dealing with Difficult People
Volume 17, August 2002 - Keeping Good People
Volume 18, September 2002 - Organizational Culture
Volume 19, October 2002 - Lean Does Not Have to Be Mean
Volume 20, November 2002 - Speaking from the Heart
Volume 21, December 2002 - Joy in the Workplace
Volume 22, January 2003 - Personal Change
Volume 23, February 2003 - Evolving Workplaces: Telework
Volume 24, March 2003 - The Leader as Storyteller
Volume 25, April 2003 - When Enough is Not Enough
Volume 26, May 2003 - Creative Expression
Volume 27, June 2003 - Facilitative Leadership
Volume 28, July 2003 - Pride in Work
Volume 29, August 2003 - Transformation
Volume 30, September 2003 - Effective Listening
Volume 31, October 2003 - Optimism
Volume 32, November 2003 - Renewing Ourselves
Volume 33, December, 2003 - The Gift
Volume 34, January 2004 - Ethics
Volume 35, February 2004 - Employees as Customers
Volume 36, March 2004 - Valuing Diversity
Volume 37, April 2004 - Dialogue: Thinking Together
Volume 38, May 2004 - Cynicism
Volume 39, June 2004 - Bureaucracy
Volume 40, July 2004 - Building Community
Volume 41, August 2004 - Feedback
Volume 42, September 2004 - Convening People
Volume 43, October 2004 - Loss
Volume 44, November 2004 - Retreats
Volume 45, December 2004 - Driving Out Fear
Volume 46, January 2005 - Having Difficult Conversations
Volume 47, February 2005 - Whither Quality
Volume 48, March 2005 - The Strategic Plan
Volume 49, April 2005 - Measurement
Volume 50, May 2005 - Picture of a Process
Volume 51, June 2005 - Harassment
Volume 52, July 2005 - Customer Retention
Volume 53, August 2005 - Relationship Building
Volume 54, September 2005 - Minding Manners
Volume 55, October 2005 - The World of Words
Volume 56, November 2005 - Giving Direction
Volume 57, December 2005 - Stress Management
Volume 58, January 2006 - Solving Problems
Volume 59, 2006, February 2006 - Time Management
Volume 60, March 2006 - The Power of Vision
Volume 61, April 2006 - On Purpose
Volume 62, May 2006 - Strength-based Organizations
Volume 63, June 2006 - The Rebel Within
Volume 64, July 2006 - On Organization
Volume 65, August 2006 - On the Dark Side of Leadership
Volume 66, September 2006 - On Delegation
Volume 67, October 2006 - On Employee Surveys
Volume 68, November 2006 - On Reflective Writing
Volume 69, December 2006 - Changing Habits
Volume 70, January 2007 - Spanning the Generations
Volume 71, February 2007 - Lean Organizations
Volume 72, March 2007 - Mindfulness
Volume 73, April 2007 - Principled Leadership
Volume 74, May 2007 - Simplify
Volume 75, June 2007 - Stereotypes
Volume 76, July 2007 - Values-driven Organizations
Volume 77, August 2007 - Constructive Confrontation
Volume 78, September 2007 - Are You a Leader or a Manager?
Volume 79, October 2007 - Employee Engagement
Volume 80, November 2007 - Balanced Scorecard
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Contact:
M. K. Key, Ph.D.
Psychologist
Key Associates
Nashville, Tennessee
phone (615) 665-1622/fax (615)
665-8902
keyassocs@mindspring.com