Once upon a time . . .
a Story of Great Leadership
Our Brains-Hardwired for Stories
FACTS without stories are not relevant
To understand people,
you must understand
their stories
TO PERSUADE PEOPLE
YOU MUST
GIVE THEM A NEW STORY
BASED ON THEIR OLD STORY
The Leader’s Greatest Asset
&Greatest Challenge
is
≠
Brains: Model Based Thinking
Computers: Fact Based Processing
Model
A
STORY
to Describe
Our Environment
Mental Map: A Specific Type of Model
Stored Here
In Dorsal Stream
Where’s Safety?
Where am I relative to . . .
The ball
My teammates
My opponents
The net
The boundaries
Dorsal Stream Plays a Role in Conceptual Space
Limbic System: Controls Emotions
Fear
Q-LeadershipPage 15
Strong Emotion
Causes us to resort to our mental maps Our Models of the world
EVEN WHEN THEY ARE WRONG!
Stories are Mental Models
Stories = Foundation of Culture
Some Key Facts
1. Our brains work on the basis of MODELS not raw fact
2. Our brains are hardwired to create Mental Maps of our world
3. When emotionally stressed, the limbic system takes over – causing us to work off our mental maps and often by-passing cognition
4. We are hardwired to process the world in the context of stories
SO WHAT?
Peter Drucker
Business has only one fundamental goal:
Create Customers
To do this, business has only two key activities:
Marketing
&
Innovation
Innovation
Implementation of all significant innovation requires a project
Companies which believe innovation creates a competitive advantage must develop project management capabilities
To really solve a medical problem, and get to the people who need it, you cannot do it all alone. To produce a product of real value, it takes the combined, committed and organized efforts of people with a range of skills and talents..
The Medical Device R&D Handbook by Theodore R. Kucklick
LEADERSHIP
IS ABOUT
INSPIRING CHANGE
Warren Bennis
Great Leaders Manage Meaning by creating a compelling vision (story)
Howard Gardner
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
IS ABOUT
IMPLEMENTING
CHANGE
Project Management Definition
The Craft
of
Converting Ideas
To
REALITY
Change Requires PersuasionNew ideas and innovations always encounter resistance
Implementing new ideas requires supporters
How Much Music Does a Conductor Make?
Leonard Bernstein
Project Manager Novice vs ExpertExpertNovice
Reacts to problems as they arise Anticipates problemsSolves problems Prevents problemsMotivates by raw “Facts” Motivates with “Compelling Stories”Makes sure tasks finish on time Makes sure tasks start on timeAccepts project scope as defined by others Works with stakeholders to define scope Seeks to avoid risk Manages riskTask oriented Project delivery orientedPersonally solves problems Recruits resources to solve problemsConsiders project reviews and reporting to be annoying requirements
Utilizes reviews and reporting to gain information and recruit support
Hurries to make a schedule and action Develops a schedule through a disciplined process – focuses on planning
Focuses on the schedule to manage the project
Utilizes the plan to manage the project: QTCS-R
Reacts to team dynamics Anticipates team dynamicsResists change Manages change“Me” focus “We” focus
Persuasion Requires a New Story
Not just a story – a COMPELLING Story
“We” oriented
Positive and respectful
Relatively simple
Recognizes the past and common heritage
Defines a reason to change
Frames a new belief based on common understanding
Creates a picture of the future
Components of Compelling Story
Situation: Where are we now and how did we get here?
Gap: What is needed that we do not have?
Solution: How will we fill the gap?
Definition of success: What does the world look like when we are done?
Great LeaderGreat Story Teller
Donald Phillips in Lincoln on Leadership Lincoln’s Story Telling
(and story creation) foundation to his success as a leader
Created New Stories which became part of the fabric of American Life
Gettysburg Address – Where we are & how we got here:
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war; testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
Gettysburg Address – The problem
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate – we can not consecrate – we can not hallow– this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.
Gettysburg Address- The solution
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion– that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain–
Gettysburg Address – The Future State
That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Lincoln Created a New Mental Map
We’re in this together
It’s a great cause
BUT – It’s not done yet
We’ll renew the freedom given us by our fore-fathers
Government of the people, by the people, for the people
Making the Stories Work
Speculative Questions Innovation
We have never _______ but
What if . . .We could fly? – Wright Brothers
Why not . . .Mix milk with chocolate? – Milton Hershey
Wouldn’t it be great if . . .We could deliver packages around the world overnight? – Fred Smith, FedEx founder
It’s 1870. New York (Manhattan Island) is a major metropolis. Getting across the East River to Brooklyn and Long Island requires a ferry.
Wouldn’t it be great if . . .
We could build a bridge the Island?
Once Upon A Time . . .
Start with where we are
and
how we got here . . .
Childs Play and a Toy Story
Full length animations have captured the hearts of millions. Disney has always been the standard in this area.
The digital revolution has only begun to impact animation, but it can open up vast level of additional precision and complexity which can enrich to the story while reducing production costs.
Disney & Pixar Collaboration to produce Toy Story
Once upon a timeThere was a need for change . . .
Describe what is Missing
and what
WE
are going to do about it.
Manhattan Project
2 Leaders
Team: 130,000
14 Locations
$2 billion ($22 billion today)
3 years
Utmost Secrecy
Story
Scientists can (must) play a vital effort to win the war. This weapon
will win the war.J. Robert Oppenheimer and General Leslie Groves at Trinity test sight in July 1945
3 years following taking over Manhattan Project
Situation
We have grown together such that San Francisco is now a major and successful city to be proud of.
Gap
This success has created a problem – our waterways are choked with ferries as people try to get into our city each day. This causes safety issues and takes considerable time.
Solution
Build the world’s largest suspension bridge to connect our city to the surrounding area. Make it something to be proud of like our great city.
Future
We will proudly speak of our iconic structure which improves efficiency and safety
The Golden Gate Bridge Story
Simple = Powerful
“Full victory-nothing else.”
General Dwight D. Eisenhower, June 5, 1944
What is the New World Like?
t
Where Are We?
1. Our brains work best with stories
2. A Project Manager Gains Project Support through a compelling story
3. Compelling Stories have 4 ComponentsSituation:
Where are we now and how did we get here?
Gap: What is needed that we do not have?
Solution: How will we fill the gap?
Definition of success: What does the world look like when we are done?
Once upon a time . . .
We Created Our Future