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Oya's Newsletter: "Roots & Wings"
October 2005: Volume 2, Issue 8.
Newsletter
Archive
Written &
Published by Philippa Kennealy, MD, MPH, CPCC
Contents
Telling
Tales – how to get them to sit up and listen
to you at your next meeting!
Oya News
Recommended
Reading
for Clients on the Move Welcome
Note
Welcome
to our new "Roots and Wings" readers. And thank you to those who have shared this resource with
your colleagues and friends.
Telling
Tales – how to get them to sit up and listen
to you at your next meeting!
What
did the most memorable novel you've read or movie you've seen recently have in
common? My bet is that they involved you through
a compelling storyline. For most of us, a good
story draws us in, creates a series of mental
images, and packs an emotional punch, even when
we aren’t fully aware of it happening.
A
big part of a leader’s job is to inspire
people. Inspiration demands communication.
Uniting an idea or concept to a story, to
illustrate a point or convey a message, is a
powerful way to persuade people and make what
you say unforgettable.
This
is because stories, wrapped around a message or
key point, leave a much longer-lasting
impression than intellectual discussion or
argument.
A
healthcare client I recently coached hired me
because she had to give presentations as a part
of her job, and she felt her presentation skills
needed a big boost.
It
became apparent in our first meeting that she
had a lot of valuable information to share, she
was handy with PowerPoint, AND her presentations
were not only uninspiring – they were dry and
boring (per her observation)!
What
I noticed was missing were stories –
anecdotes, interesting case studies told in lay
language rather than in the usual medicalese,
short personal narratives – anything
that would bring the points she was making to
life.
Once
she accepted the challenge I gave her to find a
way to weave in a story, or some
self-deprecating humor, or a relevant quotation
or joke, to support each key point she was
making, both of us could see her
presentations begin to sparkle.
So
just how
do you tell a good story?
All
good stories (from the books of your childhood,
to the classics, and to modern movies) tend to
have a basic structure that creates a satisfying
experience for the listener by engaging their
imagination, having emotional appeal, and
creating an opportunity for involvement.
The
nine elements* for creating a good story are:
-
Set
the scene
-
Introduce
the character(s)
-
Begin
the journey
-
Encounter
the obstacle
-
Overcome
the obstacle
-
Resolve
the story
-
Make
the point (only ONE point per story)
-
Ask
the question
-
Restate
the point
and
this can all be accomplished in one or two
paragraphs! Remember:
-
Use
vivid language, active verbs, metaphors,
similes to bring your story alive.
-
Be
sparing and punchy in your choice of words.
-
Share
something personal about yourself and your
values.
-
Make
sure your stories are completely relevant to
the point you are trying to make, and
-
Create
the “trajectory” of the story using the
nine elements.
*(From
“Never Be Boring Again: Make Your Business
Presentations Capture Attention, Inspire Action
and Produce Results” by Doug Stevenson)
Oya
News
We completed
the successful Physician Leadership 5-class
tele-conference
on "Secrets to Influencing Others and
Eliciting High Performance" in early
September. I am grateful to all the participants
for their shared insights, wealth of experience
and willingness to interact with me and the rest
of the group!
This series is well-suited for a group or groups
of leaders within one organization, so if your organization
is looking for a customized
leadership development program, please contact
me.
Burnout on the
job is a painful experience for many hard-working
and overwhelmed professionals. Last weekend, I
was the keynote speaker and facilitator at the
annual Harbor General Hospital Internal Medicine
Residency Retreat, where I presented on
"Avoiding Flameout: How to Prevent and Deal
with Professional Burnout". It was both
gratifying and alarming to see how responsive
the young doctors were to the subject!
I shall be the
keynote speaker on the same subject at the
regional Oncology Nurses Society annual meeting
in Denver on October 7th.
If
your organization is sponsoring a special
event and wants a lively, provocative and
entertaining speaker, please contact
me,
so that I can make your event a
success.
What fun I am
having reading A Whole New
Mind, by Daniel H.
Pink!
I love his humorous
narrative style, with its engaging imagery, but
even more so, I am challenged and intrigued by
his premise that, to succeed in the newest
"age", we are going to have to develop
and enhance certain "right-directed
thinking" skills (i.e. right-brained
skills).
In particular,
he emphasizes six vital skills that, if
mastered, will enable us to use our right brains
as effectively as our left brains (the dominant
brain side in this most recent "information
age"). Thus, he argues, we will enter the
Conceptual Age equipped with a Whole New Mind!
The six skills
are: Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play and
Meaning.
Naturally,
these skills appeal to me because of the work I
do as a coach and speaker whose passion lies in
"lighting other people's fires". I am
struck by how much of the corporate and
individual coaching I do is tailored to help my
clients develop these skills, because this is
where some of the deepest longing lies!
I'm
also curious to know how this will go over with
those of you who revel in linear logic, the
power of numbers and persuasiveness of rational
analysis! Let me know if you are not influenced,
as well as entertained, by his arguments
Please
forward this newsletter to a client, friend,
relative or acquaintance that might enjoy
reading it.
Philippa Kennealy MD MPH CPCC
The Vision Realization Process™
President, Oya Consulting
Dr. Philippa Kennealy is an Executive and
Professional Coach and Professional Speaker, dedicated to your professional
and personal success and fulfillment. To
schedule an initial FR*EE consultation, to learn
more, or to inquire about having her speak to
your group or organization, contact her at:
pkennealy@oyaconsulting.com or
click here.
SHARE THE WEALTH
If you enjoy this newsletter and want others to
benefit, please forward this copy to family,
friends or colleagues. I truly appreciate your
loyalty and interest.
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