Leadership Insights, Mentorship and a Little of What I am Up to... Look for new Blog Entries Every Monday

It’s Already Inside: Strategy is Every Leader’s Responsibility

Featured, Leadership Insights Jun 17, 2013 No Comments

Hello and welcome to my blog!  This week coming to you from Calgary, Alberta.

For an organization to set itself apart from the multiple sources of competition within and from outside of their industry segment, it is imperative that they first have a Vision, Purpose and strategy but, they also execute on it as well.

Most every organization on the planet fails to execute on their strategies.

Why?  There is a whole host of reasons.  Here are just a few…

  • No Vision
  • No purpose or why
  • Too many strategies (You should only have 3 or less)
  • Too complicated (Biggest reason – Executives have to prove how smart they are and justify their big school MBA by creating ridiculously complex plans)
  • No focus
  • Lack of importance
  • No Communication
  • The plan is not laid out in small, bite size pieces
  • No governance.  If it is true that what gets measured gets done, then why don’t executives track the progress of strategic plans?
  • No roles and responsibilities are defined for how everyone can play a role in the strategic plan
  • No Trust – Yes, executives don’t trust their entire team to actually execute.

And one of the biggest I see is that executives do not enlist the power of middle and junior leaders in the organization to lead the execution of the plan.  I see this all the time.  The very leaders in an organization that make the key difference between getting it done or not, are not brought into the fold and 1. Asked for their opinions and, 2. Informed how they could play the key role.

Conversely, I see this all the time from junior and middle leaders in companies…  They do not get engaged because they do not feel the “Love” from executives.  Senior leaders fail to see the value in the other leaders when it comes to strategy and do not “Sell” the plan to them.

Here’s the thing…  If you are a leader, get engaged in the strategy.  Learn how the strategy was developed and why.  Ask questions so that you feel you have the answers you need to help your team understand.

Getting engaged in the strategy role out, helps your brand.  It helps highlight your worth to your manager and their manager.

If your senior leaders do not help you engage after taking the initiative, you need to ask if you are working for a sinking ship and you need to take your skills somewhere else where you can add value.

Robert Murray is a Key Note Speaker, Turn Around Mercenary and the author of the critically acclaimed book; “It’s Already Inside: Nurturing your innate leadership for business and life success.”

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It’s Already Inside: Lead with a Winning Strategy not Price

Featured, Leadership Insights Jun 10, 2013 No Comments

Hello and welcome to this week’s rant on leadership.  This week coming to you from Bucharest, Romania where I am speaking for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.

Let’s get started…  Price and strategy.

In the post-2008 world recession environment that we all find ourselves in, business life has changed.  And it will never be the same as it was pre-2008 when economies and companies were flying high.  Consumer debt was insanely out of control as virtually everyone lined up to buy more using credit.  Some economies were ballooned by unsustainable consumer debt that was 150% individual’s earning capability.  And the banks kept lending.

Now in post-2008, it will never be the same.  Proof positive of that is the recent recovery of the North America stock exchange indexes where investors are now seeing returns much higher than pre-2008 and portfolio net worth is higher than ever.  Yet, consumers are more conservative and hanging on to their money.  Corporations are still watching their cost lines more closely than their revenue lines.  The CFO’s of the world are still reeling the most influence in companies.

This has caused a degradation in competitive advantage focus in most businesses as everyone appears to be using the only tool in their bag that they think will work – Price.  I see it everywhere in virtually every industry.

The problem with this is that in the price game, nobody wins – nobody.  And eventually, businesses will have to close up shop.

Conversely, the very sparse (and I mean that) companies that get this and have developed and deployed a strategy based on a clear competitive advantage and value to the customer (be it B2B or B2C) are growing at significant rates.  Cases in point…  In hospitality, the Four Seasons Hotel and Resort chain has grown worldwide while some of their “same-class” competitors have shrunk.  Airlines with clear strategic focus like SouthWest Airlines and WestJet Airlines continue to post quarter after quarter of profit while virtually every other airline in the world is losing money.  An Apple LapTop still costs twice as much as a competitor’s offering and Apple continues to capture marketshare.

If your business is to win in the new economy, you have to stop focusing only on the cost line and bring a balanced approach to customers, culture, revenue as well as cost.  You have to offer something to your customers that is CLEARLY different and CLEARLY more valuable than your competitors – Be it Service, Innovation or Quality.  It takes discipline and focus and it is hard – Yes, I agree.

Your choice though is to shrink your business and start turning off the lights.

This is the new economy.  Be smart or be dead.

Robert Murray is a Key Note Speaker, Turn Around Mercenary and the author of the critically acclaimed book; “It’s Already Inside: Nurturing your innate leadership for business and life success.”

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It’s Already Inside: Are you always “On Brand?”

Featured, Leadership Insights Jun 03, 2013 No Comments

You are a brand.  You may not have an iconic logo or even have a logo at all but none the less, you are a brand.

And like any other brand, you have an essence.  An aroma.  Your friends, family and colleagues will be able to clearly articulate what your brand represents to them.  Just like they would be able to articulate the meaning, the essence and the aroma of a brand that they admire or consume on a regular basis.

Brands like Apple (The number one brand by value in the world at $185billion) or Google, MacDonald’s, Coke, Microsoft, Nike, etc., are recognizable brands that stand for something when people think about them or talk about them.  And… when people get together anywhere in the world they usually get very passionate about their brand preferences.  Today spirited debates erupt everywhere about Apple’s iPhone versus Samsung’s Galaxy -when, at the end of the day, they are both just smartphones that have relatively similar features, functions and advantages.

The same holds true for you and your brand.  Your brand has been built on years of familiarity and behaviour.  Your values and principles make up part of your brand.  The goals and ambitions do too.  What you have accomplished.  What you say you are going to do and what you actually do.  How you behave in certain situations. Your attitude. Your results. What you wear. The service you deliver. Can you be relied upon? The list goes on and on.

The key is this.  The world is full of competition.  It is very crowded.  The one thing that will set you apart as a leader and a person is your brand and how true you are to your brand.  Your brand is what will get you hired over others that have the same qualifications.  It is continuing to work on and develop your unique brand that will bring you lifetime employability versus being just one of the many that has the same functional skills.

Start right now. Sit down and figure out what your brand is and what you want it to be.  It needs to tie in with your values and beliefs, goals and aspirations. Then get to work on developing that brand.  And, like the big brands in the world that represent billions on their balance sheets, always be true to your brand.  Never burn it by going off brand, violating your values or being untrue to yourself.

You are a brand.  What brand are you?

Robert Murray is a Key Note Speaker, Turn Around Mercenary and the author of the critically acclaimed book; “It’s Already Inside: Nurturing your innate leadership for business and life success.”

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It’s Already Inside: The Body of a Million Dollar Athlete

Book, Featured, Leadership Insights May 27, 2013 No Comments

This is absolutely the biggest personal mistake most business people, entrepreneurs, and leaders make. They treat their bodies like trash bins.

You would never buy a $100,000 racehorse and then allow it to skip breakfast, eat junk food, high fat/low protein meals, not drink enough water, drink too much caffeine and alcohol, smoke, not get enough sleep or exercise. Most people I know would not do that to a $5.00 dog.

If you think about the total cost of education and preparation that has gone into the you standing in front of a mirror, you are most definitely worth more than $100,000! In reality, factor in the future development and earning potential and responsibility in terms of leading other people’s lives, and you are now a multi-million dollar asset.

A friend of mine’s son is a professional athlete. As an athlete making well over a million dollars a year, his fitness and nutrition regime is not only very detailed and specific, but it is closely monitored by the team doctor and trainers. There is no room for flexibility or error.

As a business leader, you may think you do not make your living off your body, but you certainly make your living off your brain. And your brain is part of your body. Your brain is affected by the fuel you put into the machine, the rest that you give it, and the physical activity you put it through.

Okay, before we go any further, let’s get all of the whining excuses out of the way for why you treat your body like a garbage can. Here is a list of my favorites:

  • The kids kept me awake all night.
  • I don’t have time to have breakfast.
  • I don’t have time to plan out my nutrition for the day.
  • I need coffee to keep me going.
  • I need a chocolate bar in the middle of the afternoon to give me a boost.
  • I don’t have time to exercise.
  • I travel so much—it’s hard to eat right on the road.
  • I need a drink at the end of the day.
  • I am going to quit smoking in the New Year.
  • I only need a few hours of sleep each night.
  • I can’t lose weight no matter what I do. It’s genetics.

It is all a bunch a crap. You know that, so stop making excuses. Leaders do not make excuses.

I want to follow a leader who understands the value he/she provides and wants to operate at a peak performance level all the time. Would you follow you based on the lifestyle you have?

Start with the solid belief that you have to treat your body like it is that of a highly paid athlete.  Get some advice on a nutrition program.  Stop eating “White Death” – Foods high is salt, sugar and products made with white flour and white rice.  Eat good quality protein three times a day.  Drink 2-3 litres of water a day.  Stop drinking all sugar and aspartame laced drinks.  Your plate at every meal should have twice as many vegetables on it than protein.  Reduce your coffee intake – switch to green tea.

Get 8 hours of sleep a day.

Move.  Get your body doing some form of exercise daily.  Ask your doctor for help here.

These are the basics.

Most every disease known to man is a result of diet and stress. It can all be prevented.  And the cool part…  You will be a better leader and be WAY more successful!

Want to know more?  Ask me.

Robert Murray is a Key Note Speaker, Turn Around Mercenary and the author of the critically acclaimed book; “It’s Already Inside: Nurturing your innate leadership for business and life success.”

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It’S Already Inside – Develop a Personal Brand of Distinction

Book, Featured May 20, 2013 No Comments

Been getting a lot of questions recently about Personal Branding.  In fact, I have been asked to speak a lot about too to audiences at conferences and private events.

It seems, people are discovering that they are getting lost in a world of “Sameness.”  Think about it…  If you are an accountant, what makes you different than thousands (and thousands) of other accountants out there?  If you are in Marketing, HR, Engineering, Operations, etc., what makes you different than the sea of functional experts than share the same skills you have?

Or, look at it this way…  If you went grocery shopping and you turn down the aisle where they keep the cereal.  What makes you take the box of cereal off the shelf that you select.  There are literally hundreds of different brands of cereal (most of them exactly the same cereal inside the box).  What is it about that particular cereal brand that makes you choose it?

Now, if you turn down the next aisle and it is the aisle where they keep “Leaders,” and there is hundreds of shiny new leaders in brightly coloured packages up on the shelves, what makes the shoppers pick “You” off the shelf?  What is about your packaging, features, advantages and benefits that make you a choice over the others?

Personal Branding is paramount.  It is critical to your career development, growth and advancement.  Before you do another thing with your professional life, sit down and figure out what makes you different?  What makes you valuable to others that are in need of your skills.  Different from the functional skills?

If you are having trouble with the answer to the question, try this…  What got you to where you are today?  What are your strengths (Beyond the functional skills)?

Ask your partner.  Ask your friends (Get a brutally honest friend to tell you) – ask them why they are friends with you?  There is a brand that is your brand and it is that brand that gets you attention (People taking you off the shelf).  It could be that you are operationally excellent (Efficient, organized, or you deliver the best quality).  It could be that you are incredibly innovative – you can solve problems where others get lost in the problem.  It might be that you take better care of customers than anyone else.

After you discover what makes your brand, you need to take the next critical step and STAY TRUE to your brand.  Valuable corporate brand icons like Nike, Coke, BMW, etc., never, ever go off brand.

Your brand is uniquely yours.  When you pay close attention to what makes your brand yours, you will discover that your life will change in amazing ways.

Robert Murray is a Key Note Speaker, Turn Around Mercenary and the author of the critically acclaimed book; “It’s Already Inside: Nurturing your innate leadership for business and life success.”

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It’s Already Inside: Moroccan Menus and Why Customers Quit

Leadership Insights May 13, 2013 1 Comment

Is what you do and how you do it clear to your customers?  Do they clearly know why they do business with you and your organization?  Do you?  Is there a feeling of “Wow!” when a customer has experienced your service or product?  Or, is it one of annoyance?

Here’s a short story followed by some numbers to help explain what I’m thinking this morning…

My wife and I went to Marrakesh Morocco about 6 months ago on a speaking gig.  We were there for 5 days.  For four nights, we went to different Moroccan restaurants to experience the real deal in Marrakesh food and culture.  We asked at the hotel for their recommendations for the best Tagine in town.  Tagine is a Moroccan ‘stew’ featuring lamb, rice, vegetables and aromatic spices all cooked together in a clay container in a low heat oven.

When we went to the first restaurant, we sat down and the waiter immediately brought us warm towels to wipe our hands with – followed by menus.  Pretty simple decision (we thought).  We were not that hungry so we simply ordered two lamb tagines.  Simple price too.  Both dishes were listed for about $12 each.

The waiter leaves and comes back with a tray of raw vegetables and hummus dip.  Cool.  It was delicious.   Next he brings out some soup.  I protest slightly by saying that we did not order the soup.  He smiles and replies that it is included.  The tagines arrive and they were amazing!  After dinner, tea and sweets arrive without notice.

Long story short, I ask for the bill.  It arrives.  The total…  Over a $100!  I protest.  The waiter explains that “yes, the tagine was only $12 each however, the other courses were also $12 each and then there is a service charge.”  I explain that we did not order the other courses.  He says they were included.  Can you see where this argument is going? Argh!

Frustrated, I pay the bill and we leave.  Believe it or not, each of the following 3 nights, there was some sort of similar ‘shake-down’ at each restaurant we went to.  Unbelievable!

The 5th night, we went to MacDonald’s.

The point is that at each of the four restaurants featuring authentic Moroccan food, there was some hidden annoyance that left a very bad taste in my mouth (No pun intended).  These are extreme examples however, very real and… they piss off your customers to the point where they just quit (and go to MacDonald’s).

Now the numbers…

86% of customers quit – Wow!  Can you believe it?  86 out of 100 customers that are unhappy, on average will just walk away.  Only 4% will tell you why.  Most of those customers will go on to tell a minimum of 20 other people about the experience (I just told hundreds in this blog).

On the other side of the balance sheet, 80% of customers are willing to pay a higher price providing they feel they are getting value for their dollar and they “trust” the business.  Of those customers, 78% will go on to tell positive stories about their experience and the business.

Get good – real good at understanding what you do that brings customer to your business and, more importantly, why they come back.  Imbed it deep in the every crevice of your company.  Discover what pisses customers off and fix it.  Discover how to identify repeat customers and embrace them.  Harvest their testimonials and referrals.  Turn them into your very best advertising apostles.

Or, you can let customers quit and eventually, there will not be any customers.

Robert Murray is a Key Note Speaker, Turn Around Mercenary and the author of the critically acclaimed book; “It’s Already Inside: Nurturing your innate leadership for business and life success.”

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It’s Already Inside: Have you Got a Mentor?

Leadership Insights May 06, 2013 No Comments

Do you have a Mentor?  One of the most valuable things you can do for your career and the direction you want to take your life is to get a Mentor to help nurture your path.

I find it fascinating that something so valuable to one’s development is also the one thing that very few people in business pursue.  And Ladies…  statistically, you are worse than men in this area.  Yes, men will aimlessly drive around in their cars – hopelessly lost  – and not stop and ask someone for directions yet, men are two times more likely to have a mentor than women.  What’s up with that!

I mentor a number of young leaders.  I have throughout my career.  I love to do it and I see it as a way to give back and hopefully, prevent someone from making the same stupid mistakes I have along the way.  I have also had mentors (at least one) throughout my career – still do.

Finding a mentor is not as hard as you think.  First of all, look for someone that you respect and someone that has achieved something that you would like to learn.  Then, simply ask them if they would take you on as a protégé.

Here’s the key.  Do not expect that this person will wave some magic wand or sprinkle some holy water upon you and you will have all this newfound wisdom and success.  The old rules still apply – if you want something, you have to work for it!

Next, you want your mentor to push you to look inside for what you truly want and what direction you want to take your career.  The best Mentors will push you outside of your comfort zone and make you really dig deep to discover, plan and execute on your own personal success strategy.

Finally, you will want your Mentor to explore with you the following areas…

  1. Relationships – The relationships you have in your life that are helping you get to where you want to go and the ones that are holding you back
  2. Interpersonal Skills – How are you at relating to other people as a follower, peer and leader
  3. Goals – What are your goals?  Are they actionable? Are they measurable? What is the time line?
  4. Strategy – Every leader and businessperson needs to understand strategy however, it is not rocket science.  The best strategies are simple and easy to execute.  Look for a Mentor that understands that and understands how to help you understand that.
  5. Focus on Action.  A good Mentor will push you to action.  He/She will be impatient with excuses.  If you are not in this to win (for yourself) do not waste your Mentor’s time.

After you have got yourself a Mentor and have started on the path to growth, become a Mentor and discover another, higher level of learning!

Robert Murray is a Key Note Speaker, Turn Around Mercenary and the author of the critically acclaimed book; “It’s Already Inside: Nurturing your innate leadership for business and life success.”

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It’s Already Inside: Who Inspires You?

Leadership Insights Apr 28, 2013 No Comments

The world is full of challenges and obstacles.  And, it seems, it is not getting any easier with economic, technological, internal and external trends, the needs of customers, shareholders, employees and family and all the uncertainties that we are faced with everyday.

Then you take all the negative influences we have in our day-to-day lives.  The people that ooze negative energy.  They are usually FULL of advice about what you can and cannot do – usually the latter.  The ones that are quick to tell you that you are too slow, too fast, too short, not experienced enough, too experienced, not strategic enough, blah, blah, blah!

It is a wonder we don’t all crawl back into bed and curl up into the fetal position!

Yet, we keep going.  We put one foot in front of the other and we carry on. What is it though?  As leaders, what gets us out the door in in front of people?  Is it a sense of duty?  Is it, and I truly hope this is not the answer, because we need the pay cheque?

Or is it our calling?  Our passion to lead?

Even leaders need a boost from time to time.  Someone to inspire us and fuel the flame of passion we have deep inside of us.  That passion to lead people and make a difference in their lives and the world around us.

That inspiration… that motivation to give it everything we have and be the very best ‘you,’ I have found, is like brushing your teeth – it needs to be done everyday.

But where do you find your inspiration?

Well sometimes, it is as close as your family.  Your children for example, especially when small, do not know they “can’t do something.”  They truly believe that they will become wildly successful.  A relative or friend that is one of those people that is always “up” or sees everything in the world through a glass that is half-full is another great source.

Books that teach us the power within us are a constant source of inspiration for me.  YouTube is full of inspirational videos.  Even positive, uplifting music adds to the sources of inspiration that gives us energy to keep going and being our best.

Here’s my homework assignment for you…  Get a piece of paper and write down 10 names of people in your your life that you feel helped shape who you are today.  Take the next step and reach out to those 10 people and thank them for their inspiration.  When you are finished, I guarantee that you will be supercharged with new found energy!

My wish for you…  Keep going.  Keep making a difference in the world.  We need all the leaders we can get!

Robert Murray is a Key Note Speaker, Turn Around Mercenary and the author of the critically acclaimed book; “It’s Already Inside: Nurturing your innate leadership for business and life success.”

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It’s Already Inside: Leadership is Painting a Picture

Book, Leadership Insights Apr 22, 2013 No Comments

If you have heard me speak before, read my book or followed this blog, you will know that I am a HUGE proponent of leading by showing people “What Good Looks Like.” (Sound familiar?)

“What Does Good Looks Like?” is a magical question.  I use it multiple times in a day.  People who hang out with me a lot now roll their eyes when I mention the question.  ”Here he goes again…” I am sure they are thinking.  But… it works!!!  When the question is floated out to the individual or team, they stop focusing on the problem and instantly focus on a solution.  They describe solutions in very simple and visual ways!

Now, take that magical question and super charge it by adding real images to it.  Make it come to life visually!  How?  Get a selection of magazines.  It doesn’t matter what kind – House and Home, Yoga, Fashion, Men’s Health, Forbes, Fast Company, etc.  Get some scissors, glue and a big piece of paper.  You are all set!  Now, paint a picture of what good looks like on the canvas (the big piece of paper) in front of you.  Cut out pictures from the magazines and paste them onto the paper.  Get creative.  Let yourself go.   Do it as a team.  Have some fun!

Soon, the vision will emerge!  It is amazing how a collection of seemingly unrelated photos from different magazines can bring your idea and vision to life!

When you are done, use your painted picture of what good looks like to show other people in your business where you and your team are going.  The painted picture you have created will enable people to visually see what you are thinking.  They will be able to wrap their heads around it and visualize for themselves how they fit in.

Try it.  It takes a truly magical question and makes it real!

Robert Murray is a Key Note Speaker, Turn Around Mercenary and the author of the critically acclaimed book; “It’s Already Inside: Nurturing your innate leadership for business and life success.”

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It’s Already Inside – Growing New Leaders

Leadership Insights Apr 15, 2013 1 Comment

Did a couple of talks this past week in Amsterdam and Arosa, Switzerland for Heineken.  What an amazing company.  Solid leadership, good plan and energy to spare around executing and getting it right!

Saw something else really cool as well.  Investment in their people and developing them as leaders.

Rare today as most organizations in these crazy, chaotic, uncertain times cut back first on the most critical thing required for future growth – investing in their people.  Heineken seems to be a rarity though.  They have been faced with the same downward market pressure as every other fast moving consumer goods manufacturer as consumers hold on to their money yet, they see a future where an amazing culture will lead to greater emotional connections with customers.

Here’s the thing…  If you are a leader in a small/medium business or even a Fortune 500 organization, the future is your people creating a remarkable market difference – one that sets you apart from the competitors.  And that is not going to happen by accident!  Your remarkable market advantage is going to come from your people and partners delivering true differentiation that aligns with your brand, values, purpose and vision.

Organizations that invest in their team and… invest in growing their young talent into remarkable leaders will be the clear winners.

Unfortunately, the others – the organizations that cut employee development before executive perks, will languish in mediocrity before suffering a slow painful demise.

If you think that short term EBITDA gains from unintelligent cost cutting measures is the answer, you are cutting off the head of the preverbal Golden Goose.

Additionally, it is more important than ever that senior leaders in the organization take an active role in developing new talent within the company.  And by active, I mean being personally involved in programs to nurture and grow the very best leaders in the organization.  Mentoring, Mastermind Teams, shadowing projects, case studies and… role modeling.  Making it safe for risk taking, mistakes, learning, growth and development.

As a leader, if you are not mentoring an up and coming leader, why not?!

If your business is going to grow in these crazy times, you have to grow leaders.

Robert Murray is a Key Note Speaker, Turn Around Mercenary and the author of the critically acclaimed book; “It’s Already Inside: Nurturing your innate leadership for business and life success.”

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It’s Already Inside: Leadership is “Spring Cleaning”

Uncategorized Apr 08, 2013 No Comments

This week coming to you from the land of tulips in Amsterdam!

I love Spring!  To me it is an amazing time for new life and renewed energy.  Flowers are blooming, the leaves are returning to the trees, the birds are back from their winter vacations in warmer climes.  I get to go into the garden and clean it up from the winter.  It is invigorating!

Spring is also a great time to do a clean up in the office!  Get rid of clutter that has accumulated over the winter.  Clutter that distracts your team from their focus.  Clean up the environment inside and outside of the office too.  This gives the team the same boost in energy that we get when are at home and the environment is clean, warm and inviting.  Maybe a fresh coat of paint while you are at it.

I talk a lot about leaders never walking past “graffiti” – what I mean by graffiti is that in our office environments, we sometimes have “stuff” that no body wants or needs – old samples, ancient PC’s, you know, stuff.  Often this “stuff” gets put in a corner of meeting rooms and “we’ll deal with it later.”  Well, later never comes and the next you know, the “stuff” starts to multiply.  More stuff appears.  I see it all the time when I go to a client office.  When I ask about the piles of stuff in the corner of the board room, people there will say that it has been there for a while, it bothers them and it sucks the the energy out of the place.

OK, here’s the thing…  GET RID OF IT!  Clean it up.  You will discover amazing things happen!  People will start caring about the environment again.  They won’t carelessly discard stuff they do not need anymore.  People will start behave like they have a renewed purpose again.

You WIll be amazed!

Robert Murray is a Key Note Speaker, Turn Around Mercenary and the author of the critically acclaimed book; “It’s Already Inside: Nurturing your innate leadership for business and life success.”

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It’s Already Inside: What is Your Team’s Story?

Leadership Insights Apr 01, 2013 No Comments

“If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.” George Bernard Shaw

I attended an amazing strategic process last week in Toronto.  I was asked to participate in developing a strategic direction for an organization called the Men’s Health Initiative.  It is the brain child of a brilliant physician named Dr. Larry Goldberg.  Dr. Larry believes that if we, as a society, were able to get men to pay more attention to their health in the years before men reach 50, we would be able to give men 10 more years of good health.  Health that would enable men to live a longer, richer, fuller life versus being a drain on the system and our loved ones.  Brilliant cause and I was honored to selected among  the 20 other thought leaders from across Canada to assist with building the strategy.

This blog is not about the Men’s Health Initiative though.  It is about ‘Story Telling.’

I have been thinking about this for a while now.  Stories are what engage us.  We have been listening and responding to stories since we were small children.  Stories captivate us all.  When I am on the stage speaking to various audiences around the world, it is the stories I tell that engage my audience and move them to action or to do something different.

The facilitator for our strategy session, Bill Baker from BB and Co, took us through a day long adventure of story telling which, at the end of the day resulted in the story being written for the Men’s Health Initiative.

As a leader, stories are important to the engagement of your team.  They allow your team to see what you see and where the business or organization is going.  Stories connect the what (vision) to the why (purpose).  They connect the values of the organization with the values of the team.  They paint a picture.

As a leader, what story do you have to tell?  What is the story for your organization?  What stories will your customers tell their friends and family?  What stories will your employees tell their friends and family?  Your businesses success and, profitability, depend on the stories that get told.  Take the time to develop the story that captivates and engages.

Your story is not only about “What” but also “Why.”  It should be full of action verbs that describe your values.  Your story can have pictures too.  Cut pictures from magazines that visually show the key elements of your story.  Paste the pictures onto a poster board and display it prominently in your office.

Robert Murray is a Key Note Speaker, Turn Around Mercenary and the author of the critically acclaimed book; “It’s Already Inside: Nurturing your innate leadership for business and life success.”

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