Employee Engagement Leadership Academy Session #3—June 25, 2015 Dr. Frank Benest

Feedback on Team Projects  Each team briefly presents modified work plan:  The challenge  Research methodology  Deliverable(s)  Call to action  Feedback from all

Steve Jobs Commencement Speech

Overview 1. “Developing Strategic Communications Plan” 2. The power of story-telling 3. TED.com video—Simon Sinek 4. Employee engagement— San Mateo Co case study 5. Debrief info interviews

Overview (con’t) 6. Reaction panel 7. Scheduling development conversations with coach 8. Team project presentations 9. More feedback on team projects 10. Team meetings

Developing Strategic Communications Plan  Share in pairs  Focus on Q’s # 1, 2, 6, 7, 10  Share in large group

The Power of Story-Telling

Prep for Your Story 1. Identify topic of a staff or professional presentation 2. Write down 3 brief bullets of technical info

“The Impossible Dream”

Impact of Story  Putting a human face on issue  Story creates “stickiness”  “We can make the impossible dream come true!”  The phrase that pays  Leaders help others share their stories

 Everyone is a story-teller  Story-telling is an acquired skill that can be enhanced by practice & self-critique  It’s fun?!

Story-Telling  From ancient times, a ll communities have used stories to enchant, entertain, instruct, perpetuate core values & preserve wisdom

Family Stories  Pick a story you heard in your family as child  Briefly tell it in a pair  Identify what you learned from story  Share in large group

Why Stories?  We’re overwhelmed with data  Stories are memorable  They often teach a core truth  They help us make sense of the world—  Where we’ve been  What we’ve learned  What we want to be or create

Why Stories?  Stories are powerful because they...  Provide a clear message  Capture hearts as well as minds  Help create commitment

Elements to Good Stories  What were some key ingredients to the “Impossible Dream” story?

Powerful Stories  Personal  Relevant to topic  People can relate to protagonist or situation  Involves problem, misstep, misfortune  Audience develops “rooting interest”  Story builds to conclusion  Lessons to be learned  Strong point of view (POV)  Call to action

Finding Potential Stories  Pulling stories from your experience  Reflect upon your personal history & identify possible stories  Ask questions about experience & explore experience for possible relevance  Identify conclusions or lessons

Finding/Refining Stories  Other sources of stories  Reading  Talking to others  Incorporate a strong POV  Streamline story so it’s “tight” & leads to conclusions/lessons

Extracting Conclusions Two choices 1. Presenter makes conclusions or identifies lessons 2. Audience critiques experience & suggests lessons Describe experience in sufficient detail but do not make explicit conclusions or lessons Presenter can add anything missed

Kurt Vonnegut  “The Shapes of Stories”

Story Structure Three Acts 1. Introduction of main character facing obstacles or challenge 2. Action 3. “Happy” conclusion, triumph, or ending with lesson

“Story-Boarding” Instructions  By yourself  Start with the take-away  Outline the key points of experience  Identify conclusions or lessons  Eliminate non-essential “fluff”  In pairs  Identify the 3 bullets of technical info  Share the brief story (based on outline) & receive feedback

Sampling of Stories  Two mini-stories  Feedback  What worked well?  What are suggestions to enhance story?

Story Prompts  Purposes  Go to handout for list of prompts  Other prompts?

Enhancing Your Story-Telling  Be on look-out for experiences that could become a “story”  Be aware of stories told by others & critique them  Outline sequence of story elements but don’t fully write out or memorize; story must feel natural (“cocktail story” model)

Enhancing Your Story-Telling  Practice your stories in comfortable & “safe” environment (try out your material)  De-brief your stories & refine them  Start a “story file”  Use stories at beginnings of staff meetings

Final Tips  Show vulnerability (“my worst experience”)  Use gestures or body language as well as voice as story-telling tools  Integrate a prop

Story-Telling Resources  Cal-ICMA Coaching Program webinar “Storytelling To Promote Positive Solutions” Go to “Agendas & Archives” at  “How To Tell a Good Story,” Kristi Hedges, forbes.com, Dec 11, 2013  “Using Stories to Persuade,” John Baldoni, hbr.org, March 24, 2011

Follow Up  Incorporate a personal story into your next presentation or announcement  Practice  De-brief experience with someone

Simon Sinek  TED.com video  Key points

Career Journey  Donna Vaillancourt, HR Director, San Mateo County  My story  What do you discern as challenges and effective strategies?

Employee Engagement  San Mateo County

Employee Engagement Critique of case study  What went well?  What did not go so well?  What are lessons learned for our future practice?

Employee Engagement  San Mateo Co Guide  “In my current role, what is one thing that I can personally do to better engage direct reports or co-workers?”

Information Interviews  Debrief in pairs  What did you like or enjoy?  What was difficult or uncomfortable or something you did not enjoy?  What was one thing that resonated with you or something you found somewhat surprising?  Share in large group

Reaction Panel  What resonated with me?  What did not resonate with me?  What do I have to add?

Assignments for Next Session  Complete readings  Schedule meeting with Exec Sponsor to inform about scope of team project  Schedule “development conversation” with your coach  Go to handout “Becoming a Great Coach” (posted on website under session #6)  Take “Creativity Test” at (print out results & bring them to class)

Enhancing Team Projects

Sample Outline for Team Report  Principles  Start with end in mind  What does audience want to know?  Engage audience with story or personal experience  Less is more  Outline  Challenge & assignment  Summary of recommendations  Methodology  Recommendations  “Call to action”

Team Project Reports  Presentation incl. recommendations (15-20 minutes)  Questions by Board/Exec Sponsor(s) & responses (10 minutes)  Enhancing the report--Exec Sponsor(s) (5 minutes)

Feedback on Team Projects  Each team briefly presents modified work plan:  The challenge  Research methodology  Deliverable(s)  Call to action  Feedback from all

Scheduling the Team Reports  Five reports  Two in August  Two in September  One in October

Team Projects  Questions from teams?  Assistance needed?  Team meetings Thank you!