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27th Apr 2008 @ 5.19pm
I’m in the middle of Allan Leighton’s book on Leadership, which is refreshingly honest and down to earth. It gives some fascinating insights from some of the captains of industry on the qualities of a good leader, illustrated through their own stories, drawn from their own experiences. Sir Philip Green, Surinder Arora, Stuart Rose, Jacqueline Gold, Richard Baker, Justin King, James Dyson….the list goes on.
Read more…
posted by Alison Esse
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filed under Stories, Organisations
9th Apr 2008 @ 5.19pm
And then John Maeda has something to say in his book ‘The Laws Of Simplicity’….
To make anything simple, you need to apply ‘thoughtful reduction’; that’s why the iPod has fewer features than rival media players. Where you can’t reduce- and too much reduction destroys the value of your product - you have to hide complexity; which is why Google has almost nothing on its home page. But for your simplified product to succeed, it has also to appear more valuable than more complex products, something you achieve with classy materials and clever marketing; which is why Bang & Olufsen’s remote controls are heavier than you’d expect.
Right team….let’s look at our paper stock…..
posted by Alison Esse
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filed under Misc
9th Apr 2008 @ 3.53pm
I wish I had been a fly on the wall at the recent Management Today lunch discussion between some of the UK’s top corporate leaders (Adam Crozier, Royal Mail, Sir Martin Sorrell, WPP, David Brennan, AstraZeneca, Val Gooding, Bupa, Lord Crisp, ex-NHS, Paul Coby, BA, Jane McKenzie, Henley College, Miranda Kennett, First Class Coach and Ian Powell, PwC).
Read more…
posted by Alison Esse
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filed under Organisations
26th Mar 2008 @ 10.38am
Hmmmm, having a bit of writers’ block today, but I’ve found a great quote…
“Australian Aborigines say that the big stories—the stories worth telling and retelling, the ones in which you may find the meaning of your life—are forever stalking the right teller, sniffing and tracking like predators hunting their prey in the bush.”
Robert Moss, Dreamgates
posted by Alison Esse
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filed under Stories
20th Mar 2008 @ 9.44am
Today is World Storytelling Day, which started in Sweden in 2003, and is a global celebration of the art of oral storytelling. It is celebrated every year on the Spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, the first day of Autumn equinox in the southern. On World Storytelling Day, as many people as possible tell and listen to stories in as many languages and at as many places as possible, during the same day and night.
Each year, many of the individual storytelling events that take place around the globe are linked by a common theme. The 2008 theme is Dream.
We are always delighted to hear of great business stories, so today’s the day for sharing them!
posted by Alison Esse
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filed under Stories
17th Mar 2008 @ 2.49pm
Nice article in Personnel Today about Storytelling as a tool to create emotional buy-in for training and development departments. Well, we’re not exactly a ‘training company’, but they’re right in explaining why this approach is so powerful. This topic is becoming ever-more prevalent in business circles, and for good reason…
posted by Alison Esse
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filed under Engagement
14th Mar 2008 @ 6.39pm
Communications consultancy CHA has recently published a report which highlights some fairly worrying news about the disengagement of employees and why they don’t seem to find their work worthwhile or meaningful. Read more…
posted by Alison Esse
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filed under Engagement, Organisations
27th Feb 2008 @ 4.54pm
“We don’t do average.
Average is middle of the road,
and middle of the road is
where you get run over.”
Another great one from the
eminent clothing brand Howies.
posted by Ryan Dixon
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filed under Misc
20th Feb 2008 @ 11.58am
Its products? Its market share? Its all singing, all dancing logo? Well, they do have something to do with it but it’s the people that decide whether a company succeeds or fails. So, should we be looking closer to home for better results? Read more…
posted by Ryan Dixon
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filed under Misc
7th Feb 2008 @ 12.54pm
Ernest Hemingway once claimed that his best story was written in six words: ‘For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn.’ Perhaps this takes clarity and simplicity to the extreme, but what a way to spark the imagination! The Guardian challenged some contemporary authors to put forward their own six-word stories, which are worth a read.
Our own work focuses on making an organisation’s strategic story clear, simple and memorable. Imagine writing a strategic story in six words - anyone up for having a go?!!! I’d love to see what’s out there!
posted by Alison Esse
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filed under Stories, Organisations
22nd Jan 2008 @ 11.30am
My attention was recently drawn to a particular blog from the MD of Waitrose. Apart from being most entertaining, it was a great example of leadership role-modelling, not to mention an excellent tool to bring the MD closer to his employees and customers as well as providing a great platform for health and nutrition for both customers and employees alike. Read more…
posted by Alison Esse
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filed under Engagement, Organisations
14th Jan 2008 @ 8.56am
What makes a good leader? And more importantly, why? Here are seven ‘top tips’ for leaders who want to inspire their people, courtesy of The Practice of Leadership… Read more…
posted by Alison Esse
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filed under Misc, Organisations
13th Jan 2008 @ 6.18pm
It’s a sad farewell to Sir John Harvey-Jones who died this week aged 83. Probably one of our best known captains of industry, Sir John was a great storyteller as his 1990’s TV programmes on failing businesses will testify. Read more…
posted by Marcus Hayes
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filed under Misc, News
10th Jan 2008 @ 9.07pm
John Gapper’s excellent article in the Financial Times talks of the lessons that Barack Obama can teach business leaders.
Among these is is that storytelling is crucial to business. “Many CEOs stand or fall by their ability to frame a story” says Gapper, “not only for investors or analysts about how they are turning a business around but for employees to engage them in making it happen”. Read more…
posted by Paul Honeywell
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filed under Misc
13th Dec 2007 @ 9.59am
Interesting article from Simply Communicate on why storytelling should be promoted in business…
posted by Alison Esse
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filed under Stories, Organisations
30th Nov 2007 @ 4.48pm
Great article from People Management this month on how Storytelling can be used to engage employees…
posted by Alison Esse
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filed under Stories, Engagement, Organisations
13th Nov 2007 @ 9.31am
While we talk about the importance of connectivity and alignment, let’s not lose sight of the use and power of stories in our work. Our proposition is to create the energy and commitment required to execute strategic change, by connecting people to the strategic journey, and storytelling is an important part of our solution. Read more…
posted by Alison Esse
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filed under Stories, Engagement, Organisations
12th Nov 2007 @ 11.34am
Congratulations to our client Currys Supply Chain which scooped an incredible three awards at Friday’s annual CiB (Communicators in Business) awards ceremony. These included awards in both the storytelling and change management categories as well as an overall Gold Award for their change management programme. Read more…
posted by Glenn Mason
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filed under Misc
26th Oct 2007 @ 1.00pm
I enjoyed Melcrum’s Strategic Communications Summit last week. Great to see some old friends, new faces and hear some excellent speakers.
One of the key themes that kept cropping up was the ongoing issue of how to get middle / front-line managers to get on board with a company’s strategy. They are the ones who hold the trust of their teams, not the senior leadership team, so engaging them successfully - to the point that they will make it their business to engage their own teams - is absolutely crucial. Read more…
posted by Alison Esse
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filed under Engagement, Organisations
24th Oct 2007 @ 11.00am
A huge congratulations to Currys Supply Chain, a long standing client of ours, which has just landed an Award for Excellence at the CiB (Communicators in Business) Strategy Awards. Read more…
posted by Glenn Mason
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filed under Misc
1st Oct 2007 @ 9.46am
The Sunday Times published a great article which underlines the need for businesses to keep things simple. Chris West, a business advisor and author, says that business needs to speak in a language that ordinary people can understand, and avoid “management-ese”. Read more…
posted by Paul Honeywell
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filed under Misc
24th Sep 2007 @ 9.57am
I spent yesterday shooting clay pigeons, racing quad bikes and driving a tank at Newick Park yesterday, all for Dame Vera Lynn’s charity to raise funds for children with cerebral palsy. Read more…
posted by Alison Esse
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filed under Misc
23rd Sep 2007 @ 3.14pm
I came across this post on Chris Collison’s blog - a great demonstration of how stories can be ruined by corporate presentations.
posted by Sally Hinder
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filed under Misc
21st Sep 2007 @ 12.57pm
The recent situation at Northern Rock is a great example of the power of stories and storytelling. When the Bank of England announced that they were underwriting Northern Rock’s finances, both banks believed that this would reduce the risk for NR’s savers. But as many risk specialists will tell you, risk is as much a matter of perception than statistical reality. Read more…
posted by Marcus Hayes
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filed under Stories, Organisations
12th Sep 2007 @ 2.45pm
Business has lost a great storyteller in Anita Roddick. The Body Shop was founded on a great story, and through its evolution has inspired millions through the stories behind its products, its support and campaigns against animal testing and for human rights, ethical trading, the environment and the arts. Read more…
posted by Alison Esse
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filed under Stories, Organisations
21st Aug 2007 @ 11.35am
I read with interest a recent blog by one of our Canadian partners, Nicky Fried (Strategic Connections), on the loyalty and respect given by immigrant workers. It reminded me of a client’s comment last week on their own issues regarding immigrant workers, and how often their lack of brand awareness can pose a concern of its own. Read more…
posted by Alison Esse
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filed under Engagement, Organisations
1st Aug 2007 @ 2.01pm
Whilst traveling to a meeting on the underground recently I came across a wonderful example of storytelling… Read more…
posted by Ryan Dixon
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filed under Misc, Stories
20th Jul 2007 @ 2.45pm
I read a great story on my way to work this morning - which given the aura of glumness hovering over my fellow commuters - seemed timely as well as thought provoking.
Most of us understand that having a positive outlook is preferable to that of a negative one, but how many of us simply react emotionally to most situations rather than consciously choosing to apply a positive attitude to what life throws our way?
I’m not advocating that we all go around grinning moronically (although the entertainment value of this alone may be worth pursuing!) but we do have a choice. Read more…
posted by Melanie Cochran
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filed under Misc
18th Jul 2007 @ 3.13pm
I have always disliked the term ‘human resources’. It implies that people are resources just like anything else at the company’s disposal. Yet people are the company. And whatever plans, strategies and missions may exist, it’s the people - the company - that will succeed or fail in those quests. Read more…
posted by Paul Honeywell
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filed under Engagement, Organisations
18th Jul 2007 @ 2.58pm
I’ve just come back from a fantastic holiday in Dubai. The weather was incredible - 45 degrees each day (too hot for some!) whilst the sea resembled a bath with temperatures holding a steady 35 degrees…Oh, and the skies (in complete contrast to the UK this Summer), remained cloudless for the entire 2 weeks.
Aside from the idyllic weather though, the thing that really strikes you about Dubai is the sheer ambition of the place.
Read more…
posted by Glenn Mason
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filed under Misc
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