founder of naked leader
A Naked Week – 9
Naked Leader Week – 9 (16 – 22 June, 2003)
From David Taylor, author of “The Naked Leader”
Please feel free to distribute any of this as widely as you wish – no need to reference the source – just cut and paste the bits you enjoy and send on, perhaps adding your own stories or thoughts…
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With energy in all that you do
David
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Books, TV, Web-Site and Just 8 Days to Go…
Books
Book 1 mass market edition (translation – paperback edition) available in the shops, from Thursday 3 July…Book 2 (The Book of Choices) will be completed by 15th July for 1st January global publication. Advance extracts will be available to you as a member of the naked leader network, from 1st August, on www.nakedleader.com
TV
Working Wonders 1 broadcast last Thursday (19th) – disappointing to cram over 20 hours of filming into 23 minutes. This week is in a garden centre. Thank you for all of the feedback received. Big news on a new TV programme being piloted at the moment (this time much more around the book and Naked Leader ideas), more news soon…
Web-Site
New site goes live midnight on Monday 30 June (GMT). Highlights include no more pop-ups (there will be a news section!), a much more balanced look and feel, and clearer navigation.
Major new site going live in September, launched around many Naked Leader experiences, and specially designed to increase communication across the network, and across the world…
Just 8 Days To Go…
Until the launch of one of the biggest ideas that will change the world, for good.
As a member of the network, you will receive an e-mail at midnight on Monday 30 June, and if you so choose, can help to make a huge positive difference that cuts across social, geographical and religious boundaries, while not costing (or gaining) anyone, any money!
Presentations
Across three different conferences, I had three experiences that all added up to one thought…
1 I saw James DeWatteville at National Grid Transco Information Systems hold the audience in the palm of his hand, with a brilliant personal story at the start of his presentation:
“I was travelling home to Andover from Waterloo. I sat down, and a young chap sat opposite me. We exchanged brief looks as one does, and I noticed he had two cans of Stella, a copy of FHM and a novel. Anyway, I sat back and snoozed. I woke suddenly when we arrived in Andover. I rushed to get off, and as I did so this guy opposite me did the same. But in his hurry he left behind all his stuff. So I quickly grabbed his lager, magazine and book and hurried off the train.
When I got on the platform I looked around for him and he wasn’t there! It was only when the doors closed behind me that I realised what had happened, he had not been getting off at all, had gone to the loo. And there I was, holding this chap’s belongings….”
2 Keynote presentation last Wednesday, company name withheld! Chief Executive standing behind lectern reading from paper and slides. Business Power-Point presentation, very busy slide one, even busier slide two, room nodding off. Suddenly a hand went up, and a question was asked:
“Does the company have any plans to make people redundant this year?”
(Pause)
CEO comes out from behind lectern and with no notes. He walks to the front of the stage and makes direct eye-contact with the audience. He makes an impassioned speech from his heart, about how things are tough, however if they are to downsize it will be done differently from before. It will not hide behind any process or consultancy initiatives; it will be done very openly from the start. He then said four words that stunned everyone in the room, including me.
“I am very sorry for all of the heartache, anguish and uncertainty that I have personally caused you in the past – of course I have to make difficult decisions, and in the future I promise you I will make them in a different way.”
3 Thursday – Cardiff. Looks like an all day PowerPoint again. Chairman of conference (and company) stands up at the beginning, puts his notes to one side, and says (names changed):
“Before we begin, as many of you will know, Martin McCarthy finally lost his battle against cancer on Sunday, and left this world. Our love and best wishes go to his family, Clare, Elizabeth and Lorna. Please join me in a few moment reflections for Martin, and his loved ones”
Three unconnected, unprompted and unexpected events, that all add up to one thing:
When we speak with a group of people, be it our team, our company or at a
conference, the most powerful way to get any and every message across, is to be
ourselves, and speak from our hearts. This might be with a personal story or
experience, sharing our genuine thoughts, or capturing the feeling in a room.
Whatever it is, when do it, we put aside preparation, politics and paper, and
communicate directly with people’s real selves.
And we can do that for everything we want to get across, as much for a business
message and team presentation, as for a personal story, a sincere
feeling or a sad reflection.
When we speak from the heart, other hearts listen.
David
23 June 2003