Everything Speaks

Here’s an “everything speaks” nugget that we often overlook.  Nonverbal communication. Being aware of your nonverbal style, and developing habits that demonstrate leadership characteristics can be powerful addition to the leader’s toolbox.  Did you know that 93% of communication is nonverbal?  Inflection, facial expression, body language all contribute to how we are received by others. In other words, when casting vision, do you support your message or detract from it?

A recent post in the Harvard Business Review blog, titled “How to Lead Without Saying a Word,” John Baldoni, gives some helpful tips for developing your ability to enhance your leadership effectiveness through your presence.

At Auxano we drive home the concept that “words create worlds.” Baldoni states, “that a leader need not always use words to convey meaning; non-verbal cues often say more than words can.” Because of the critical importance of articulating with clarity, I would tweak that comment to say, “that a leaders need not always use words to convey meaning; non-verbal cues often can enhance your effectiveness as a communicator and leader.”

I urge you to remember this and work on your nonverbal skills.  Start studying leaders who you respect and take note of their nonverbal communication.  It is always good to remember, in every aspect of leadership, everything speaks.

Everyone loves a good story. Stories connect with us on personal and emotional levels. (what does the image shown here evoke in your memories?) Even scientific research in the field of Neuroscience Marketing shows us the emotional connection to story.  Check out this Neuromarketing blog post “Your Brain on Stories.” Using MRI technology, researchers mapped how the brain reacted to storyline emotional triggers in ads. The results reinforce why the most effective ads of all time, indeed were effective because they engaged people’s emotions with story. Good to remember when we are developing organizational marketing and communications! (yes, churches, that means you too!)

When we do branding work, we consider how your brand can”tell your story”  - the story that differentiates you from the crowd.  I’m a bit dismayed that  ”story” has become somewhat of a buzz word recently. Sometimes when that happens, a word or concept diffuses meaning and loses its impact. I hope we don’t overuse story in our conversations so much that we begin to overlook how discovering and integrating your story into your communication really can make or break your effectiveness.

Many organizations try to shortcut the branding and story telling process because they are more interested in seeing the visual product, the eye candy. Slow down, please.

Before you can tell your story, you must be able to clearly articulate what that is. Which means, it is essential that you invest time, mental energy and resources to really discover and articulate your uniqueness – your essence, your story.  With that as your script, a memorable brand identity can result.

Here are a few memorable identities to get you thinking about the value of developing your own unique expression.

Last week, I had the opportunity to speak with a potential client who is moving from an associate pastor position in a large church to a lead role at an historic, passionate church in a small community.  We were talking about the importance of integrating and communicating vision, and Faithbridge UMC came up.  It turns out that the pastor with whom I was speaking currently lives in the north Houston area near Faithbridge.  He said, “You know, I have a relationship with Faithbridge, even though I don’t go there.  I know what they are about.  When I see something in the mail, I immediately know it is from them and a look for the message. And the message is always consistent with the church I have come to know.”

Kudos to the Faithbridge team.  The leadership at Faithbridge  relentlessly remains focused on their mission.  Working with the Auxano creative team, their messaging across all communication platforms stays true to the message. Their tagline “Real People, Real Life” says it, but they way they communicate their vision visually reinforces it.  Many leading corporations yearn for the type of brand recognition that was shared in my conversation. Starbucks has done it, Southwest Airlines has done it and Faithbridge UMC has done it.

Give some thought to how you are or are not building relationships through your brand messaging. Are you missing anything?

I just ran across a tweet by @mlomb from Argentina on twitter.

Here is his post “Electricity doesn’t move through a wire but through a field around the wire.”

I love that image as it relates to building culture in an organization.  Think about it.  To really get energy flowing, it is not done through one wire – e.g. one leader – but by the energy that is created by a surging field of leaders who carry and transfer the vision of the organization.

Create fields around your wire.  Be electric.

On the plane to Chicago while heading to the Q conference, I read an interesting article about the Millennials – the generation born between 1977 and 1997 in the latest Harvard Business Review. (I hesitate to post this as I hate broad generalizations – but this is significant as the take-away really applies to all people and good leadership.) The article states that this is a generation of overachievers for whom a sense of purpose is a key factor in their job satisfaction and, according to research, they’re the most socially conscious generation since the 1960s. And as we try to reach these individuals as our future leaders, there are a few bullets to note that explain what this group of potential leaders finds inspiring and motivating.

1.  They are driven by purpose and fulfillment

2.  They value values

2.  They ask for feedback because  they are interested in personal improvement and self-management

3.  They believe in and live a collaborative lifestyle

4. They want to be fully to be engaged in their purpose

5. They want to be part of and learn to be a part of innovation and creative solutions

Here is my big sidebar: many of these highlights are true for most individuals and will be positive assets to an org – maybe, this gen is really, although still learning, ahead on the awareness curve?

Why should we care?  Because they are the future of the organization. And there may be something we can learn about how to lead and develop organizational synergy from this generation.