Strategic Storyboarding

“The world is in a crisis of trust. With this loss of authenticity and trust, it becomes increasingly incumbent on leaders to present ideas clearly and re-engage people.

When you have these tools you can be a truly facilitative leader — creating the environment for people to step forward and become better leaders.”
—Todd Harrison
Director for Associate Leadership Development, Wellpoint

What’s the big deal about winning trust?
Whether it’s your marriage or your team, people want to be included. They want to share their opinions. And they want to know you are listening.

If you have an important title or not, you can be win trust by being a truly facilitative leader. Right where you are. Training. Presenting. Running a pre-shift meeting. When you invite input and listen closely, you inspire trust.

It seems like a little thing. But faciliating takes practice and skill.

To be successful you need to know these three potential pitfalls. Once you know them–you can avoid them.

Trap One: Logic Above All

Sure, business needs a logical and left-brained approach. More customers. More profits. More on time and on budget deliverables.

But what about the people side? Personal issues, emotions, feelings, and creative insights. It’s really about people working with people.

Remember the ‘human’ in Human ‘resources’?
Oh, yeah. It’s about humans.

Trap Two: Bring Me The Money

Of course you’re in business to make money. Otherwise–why not just go for a hike? You need to make money. Shave costs. Eliminate fluff. Be real about recession proofing your business. But if you keep a hard-nosed focus on money, money, money–I bet you’re leaving a lot of opportunity on the table.

Opportunity for new idea. Opportunity for abundance. Opportunity for win-win creativity and innovation. A chance for people to get involved. A fighting chance for sustainable profits.

Trap Three: Working With You Is A Drag

You’ve seen the data. People will stay in a low-paying job, with lousy conditions just because of a great relationship with their immediate supervisor. Don’t get me started on this one.

If you are a drag to work with…look no further than the mirror. You’ll find the true reason for 100% turnover in your department.

I bet you’re not like this in everything you do or with everyone in your life. How can you be more open and engaging as a leader at work? Explore this and make simple changes high on your priority ‘to-do’ list.

With these three traps in mind, jump in and start learning more about facilitating. Ask open-ended questions. Invite input. Listen to responses. Capture responses on interactive storyboards.

Let me know how this helps you win great results. You deserve it.