Teach others by doing
By swilson | January 26, 2010
We talk a lot in communication about behavior. My focus is on the behavior of internal stakeholders. I don’t really think there is much reason for internal communication to exist beyond driving desired and necessary behavior.
Sometimes the best way to help internal stakeholders, namely employees, to understand what behaviors are required is to show them. This need is where the “walk the walk” concept originated. We tell our leaders “don’t just tell them, show them by doing it yourself.” Let your actions speak louder than your words.
This whole philosophy was brought home to me again in Anthony Bourdain’s book Kitchen Confidential. His adventurous spirit for food and cooking was borne out of childhood experiences and the example of his family. His kitchen and leadership skills were honed on the job.
My mother viewed cooking as a chore. It wasn’t until my parents retired that they started cooking together. My passion for cooking and food didn’t really blossom until I met my husband. He and I concertedly discussed making food and cooking an integral part of our family experience. We’ve agreed that we have to walk the walk.
We cook a lot. We get our kids involved in cooking with us. We try new recipes all the time and involve the kids in decisions about what we like and don’t like. My husband is brilliant at making stuff up.
Yes, Bourdain went to school, but he talks about learning by observation, watching the masters at work. It’s an important lesson for communicators too – one we should use for ourselves and one we can easily use with the stubborn executive. If you recommend the book to that stubborn executive, do so with one large caveat: there is a lot of cussing. It’s downright painful at times. But, look past that, and the walk-the-walk lesson is loud and clear.
Topics: Leader communication, cooking, leadership | Comment »
Be the toilet guy
By swilson | January 15, 2010
I just finished reading Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. The book just screams great communication lessons. For example, his observation that “right now you’re not the chef, your the toilet guy.”
- Jack of all trades
- One man band
- Go-to guy
- Wearer of many hats
That’s me.
If you are in business for yourself, an independent, or member of a small boutique firm, that’s you. If you are a one-person communication shop, that’s you too. It’s a role I accepted many years ago as a small business owner. When you aren’t surrounded by tons of support, you have to be willing to figure it out. Do the dirty work.
I have to be ready to jump in and fix the fact that we can’t receive the client’s electronic payment advice, or complete reams of forms to set us up for online invoicing. I am willing to be my own IT team to figure out why my email quit working. I am also willing to do the tactical communication implementation if I have to to support a client. The strategy is my favorite, but I’ll do the tactical stuff to deliver on client expectations.
Bourdain talks about it not just as a right of passage, but also a learning experience and a leadership development opportunity. If you don’t sweat the small stuff, how will you ever know? How can you provide great counsel, teach others, lead, be responsive, make good decisions?
I’m getting ready to embark on a new project with a new client. I’ll be working with the communication team to help them become more skilled strategic thinkers and counselors. To gain their trust, I’ll need to work some of the small stuff with them. As I do, I’ll always be teaching, but I have reminded myself that no assignment from the team is beneath me. As long as the client thinks the time is valuably spent, and I can make a contribution, I’ll do it. Every task is a teaching opportunity. And an opportunity for me to continue to hone my own skills.
Next week, I’ll tackle that toilet that runs on and on.
Topics: Eloquor, Internal Consulting, entrepreneurship, leadership | Comment »
What’s the value of strategic communication?
By swilson | January 13, 2010
Check out my musings on the Communitelligence Communication Skills blog on my shock that people still don’t assume that a strategic approach is better than a tactical one. They still have to ask the question. I suppose it should be no surprise. But it does make me weary.
Topics: Internal Consulting, Planning, measurement | Comment »
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