Geronimo Leadership Coaching

Get Ready for The Future: Open Leadership

Open: How Leaders Win by Letting Go

Today, Monday, May 24th , is the official launch date of Open Leadership, by Charlene Li.

Here is the introduction to the book. It includes a case study of how the American Red Cross was able to become more open and embrace social technologies — and in so doing, activated a distributed fundraising machine using primarily social media.

View more presentations from Charlene Li.

It’s a great overview of the book for people who want to get a quick look.

Why do I want to read it?

• Because of Charlene Li's style of Leadership : she's a role model and an Open Leader.

• Because of her clear and concise concepts, her Optimism and her Values: Trust and Sharing.

• Because of another book I recommend, The 2020 Workplace, by Jeanne C. Meister and Karie Willyerd, where Charlene Li is also quoted, in Chapter One Ten Forces Shaping The Future Workplace Now.

"How can companies improve collaboration and knowledge sharing to achieve improved business results? Increasingly they are creating groundswells, a social trend whereby people use technologies to get the things they need from another, rather than from traditional institutions."

Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff, Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies.

Table of Contents -

Part I - The Upside of Giving Up Control

- Why Giving Up Control is Inevitable

- The Ten Elements of Openness

Part II - Crafting your Open Strategy

- Determining How Open You Will Bew

- Understanding and Measuring the Benefits of Being Open

- Structuring Openness with Sandbox Covenenants

Part III - Open Leadership: Redefining Relationships

- Open Leadership: Mind-sets and Traits

- Nurturing Open Leadership

- The Failure Imperative

- How Openness Transforms Organizations

Summary -

Great insightful and educational book. It shares real life how to's on the areas around openness, transparency, authenticity, and listening. Tackles tough questions such as failure, how to handle a curmudgeon, why your company can't be like Apple.

Real life case studies from the Red Cross, US Navy, President Obama, United Airlines, Dell, P&G, Johnson and Johnson, Comcast, SunTrust, Ford, Cisco, Zappos, Kaiser Permanente, HP, Netflix, Starbucks, Best Buy, Kodak, Bank of America, Marriott."

I wish I had done like Bret L. Simmons and asked Charlene Li :-)  for a copy of her book in advance, to review it.

He's written an excellent review in his blog, Positive Organizational Behavior.

My own conclusions and questions for YOU:

I believe Charlene Li will inspire a lot of Leaders to foster Open Leadership, by acting as one the best role models for GenY Women Leaders!

What could you do to start being an Open Leader and transform Yourself and your business or your Company?

Do you know around you other leaders who act like Open Leaders?

How do they achieve that?

What do they do, how do they behave?

What are their skills?

What are their values?

Who are they when they behave this way? What's their IDENTITY?

What's their Mission?

Hoping you will join the discussion and bring us stories and examples to inspire and help next Generation Women.

Innovator Charlene Li Communicates her Vision with Passion

After another Spring break, ("le pont du mois de mai": "bridge" for long May week ends  in France...), I'm back  with an Inspiring  Role Model for Women Leaders.

Following up with my Women Speakers Series, here is another illustration for the Innovator Style of Leadership, with Charlene Li.

The corporate world would be such a better place if more leaders were to invent a new kind of leadership, an "innovative leadership", an open leadership, opening new possibilities, solutions and collaborations. We need more role models, especially for girls and women, to show us the way and inspire us to action. That's the reason why I'm writing this series, and collecting stories of remarquable women leaders, from different cultures, with different personal styles and values. We can't identify anymore with the stereotyped representation of the "LEADER" ( a WASP Superhero). We aspire for different models, reflecting the diversity of the world, in cultures, in genders, in classes, in skin colors, and ...in souls also.

Now, back to Charlene Li!

Typically, someone communicating with a strong preference for The Innovator dimension (from the SPM Spony Profiling Model), would be seen as:

"Prolific and creative brain-stormers who are attracted by abstract issues and intellectual challenges. Attached to freedom of expression, they feel comfortable in initiating original and unconventional projects."

There are many American women leaders who fit in The Innovator Style of Leadership and Communication. Just like the Persuader and the Pioneer styles, it makes perfect sense with the Anglo-Saxon cultural result and change orientation:

• Entrepreneurial spirit
• Pragmatic
• Informal style
• Openness for change

One of the most famous today is Charlene Li, and I want to make a special post about her and highlight her communication and leadership style.

Who is Charlene Li?   Who does she know?    What does she do?

I'm asking these 3 questions, because it's what Charlene stresses in her talk, and I found it original and fun to present her this way, as well!

Who are you? IDENTITY

Who do you know? RELATIONSHIPS

What do you do? ACTIVITIES

Who is Charlene Li?

Her Identity? You can find everything about her on her site: charleneli.com

She's the founder of Altimeter. Altimeter is " a strategy firm that provides clients with a pragmatic approach to using new technologies".

Three keywords here: Pragmatic, New and Technologies

Who does she know and who knows her?

" Charlene is frequently quoted by leading media channels such as The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, and The Associated Press. She has appeared on 60 Minutes, The McNeil NewsHour, ABC News, CNN, and CNBC.  As noted social technologist, Charlene has earned a vast following through her blogs, website, columns, articles, and keynotes." (from her website)

Her social networks could be illustrated by one of them, Twitter:

What does she do?

She "provides clients with a pragmatic approach to using new technologies"

She creates: she writes blogs and books (the last one is a must read "Open Leadership", I have ordered it and will write a post about it very soon)

... and she speaks at SX about The Future of Social Networks!

Why is she emblematic of the Innovative Leadership and communication style?

She was named one of the 12 most creative minds of 2008 by Fast Company, and one of the most influential women in technology 2009.

She's innovative in the way she talks:

• Simply

• With energy and passion

• Openly

• Fast paced

• Informally, dressed casually

She's innovative in what she says:

• Future oriented she takes us 5,10,15, 20 years from now!

• Visionary: "The Social network will be like air" "Open: how open leaders win by letting go"
  

• Planting new Ideas, Encouraging Change:  "The open network will be the new norm."
  

               "Leaders will engage at all levels, outside as well as inside the organization."

She's a role model for the next generation of girls and young women entrepreneurs and business owners and might also be an inspiration for women executives who aspire to be on the 21st century boards!

She's congruent : her style of communication conveys who she really is, how she's perceived as a leader, leading from the inside out, openly and pragmatically. She really is an open leader.

"If you truly want to get advantage of the social networks, you've got to get your own identity, inside your house, in order." Charlene Li.

If you truly want to be a leader, start by leading yourself, with your own style and create your own life!

Next, in Geronimo Leadership Women Series, the Networker, with Arianna Huffington

Presenting With Elegance: Lessons From The Irreverent Coco Chanel

Here's a video of Coco Chanel's first television interview. It's in French, watch it even if you don't understand French. Coco Chanel 's body language is eloquent...

How does Coco Chanel express herself in such a formal context?

She's incredibly original, irreverent and free to be herself.

Remember, it was the early 60s, the beginnings of the television in France. People interviewed were more static, contained, conventional, almost severe...(take a look at General de Gaulle at the ORTF and you'll see what I mean!)

ORIGINAL

• She's standing, when most people sit down and stay put during interviews

• She's moving all the time! Her arms, her head, her whole body, completely at ease in her impeccable tailleur...

IRREVERENT

• She starts her talk by saying NO!
• She's smoking and keeps one hand in her pocket, contrasting with the classical feminine silhouette

• She's even scratching her back, like a 12 year old school girl!

FREE ... SIMPLY FREE!

• She's improvising as she's talking
  

• She's bold and natural, sometimes soft and polite, other times interrupting and irreverent

• She's 100% herself : Coco!

What does she say about elegance?

"Elegance is to allow women to move with ease. To prevent them from feeling dressed up, to prevent them from changing attitudes and styles depending on the dress in which one has put them! It's very difficult. I think it's the gift I have, if we can call it a gift, and I think I have got it.

The human body moves all the time, even when we do not want him to move.You see, I wish I could stop moving and speak calmly. That is very difficult for me. I am moving all the time. If I had a costume which bothered me, I wouldn't be moving at all. I would be afraid it might change place.

Well, I don't care! My suit can move, not move, I don't care at all, it can do whatever it likes.

It holds itself!"

What a beautiful metaphor of a well designed and structured presentation,(the tailored suit) which you then can deliver simply, figure-hugging your own style!

"Les femmes sont toujours trop habillées mais jamais assez élégantes!"

"Women are always too much dressed and never elegant enough!"

I love it when she says: "Oh my god, this is such a difficult question! You're asking me questions that are far too difficult! " Then, she scratches her back, casually, completely at ease in her body. Wow!

What's in it for you?

• Dare To Be Different from Others-Be Yourself- Be Unique

"in order to be irreplaceable one must always be different. People laughed at the way I dressed, but that was the secret of my success: I didn’t look like anyone.”

• Be Bold

"In fashion, you know you have succeeded when there is an element of upset."

• Use Your Intuition and Experiences

"Fashion is not simply a matter of clothes,” said Chanel. “Fashion is in the air, born upon the wind. One intuits it. It is in the sky and on the road.”

• Keep it Short and Simple

"I get rid of everything I can, every thing that is not useful. Until I reach  simplicity..." 

• Leave a Strong Impression

"Dress shabbily and they remember the dress,” said Chanel. “Dress impeccably and they remember the woman.”

Present  with elegance and they will remember your message, not your slides.

Find in your memory, an experience when you felt you were daring, you were free to be yourself, unique and completely aligned with your values.

You were "elegant".

Share with us these moments of "elegance" in your comments, I'm sure you have plenty of them which could be inspiring for others. Give us your thoughts!

What a Crazy and Lovely Female Fish Can Teach Us about Communication Skills

Remember Finding Nemo? Pixar's animated movie. As it April's fool day , in French: "Poisson d' Avril!", I figured I would speak about female leadership, in the Ocean!

It is the story of a little clown-fish named Nemo, who disobeys his over-protective and stressed father Marlin, by swimming into open water. He is of course caught and placed, far far away from home, in a Sidney Dentist Fish Tank...(brrr!)

Fortunately, Nemo's father, on his way to save his son, meets a very brave and joyful creature, a female fish named Dory.

It's a story of trust, of empowerment, of Father and Son, of friendship and tolerance,(remember the gang of sharks), of personal development and leadership. It's a typical hero's journey.

But it's also a lesson in communication skills, thanks to the hilarious Dory.

Watch this and have fun!

What does it teach us about communication skills and leadership?

If you believe you can speak whale and if you are fearless and bold enough to speak out and speak up, whales will actually speak back!

• Relax. Take a big breath.Just start. Once you start to speak, it's much easier to keep speaking.

• Ask for directions! Be bold and ask the questions nobody dares to ask.

• Believe in Yourself. Dare to be different.Do it even if others tell you you can't, if they think you're ridiculous, like incredulous Marlin (You can't speak whale!).  Your heart may beat faster, people will start focusing on you, but do it! Listen to this little voice inside which says Go for It!

• Enjoy your talk. Find a reason to be excited about your presentation.Here Dory has fun doing something completely new and exploring different sounds...She's playing!

• Little fellow can speak to big fellow. If you speak from the heart, you will be heard.Your confidence and passion will engage others. Be ambitious. You too, small fish, little fellow,you can speak to "big fellows".

What about you, do you speak whale?

I do!

...Poisson d' Avril!

Welcome

I am Marion Chapsal and I am passionate about Women in Leadership.

The purpose of this blog is to share this passion with you in a unique way, informative and entertaining.

My Focus? Leadership Coaching and  Communication Skills for Women.

Here's what you will find:

• A series on 12 Powerful Women Leaders

• A tool for Developing a Global Leadership Mindset

• A series on 6 presentation trends for The Next 10 Years

• A series on  Presentation Recipes

• Video Tips with Flip

• Mind Maps,   Cartoons,  TED Videos

• Inspiring Role Models Stories for Girls and Women

• A Powerful, Fun and Creative Online Coaching Tool

Please make your self at home, muse in the different categories thanks to the tag cloud and share your questions, opinions and ideas in the comments here or on Twitter or LinkedIn

"My purpose is to coach women, using my generosity, creativity and passion, to find their voice, communicate with confidence and enthusiasm, and develop fully as 21rst century women leaders."

3 Presentation Tips From The Comics

Are you stuck preparing for Your Next Presentation, putting together a short intro about yourself?

Follow these 3 powerful tips, your presentation will be fantastic!

• Start "as if" you were telling a story. Find the thread, the situation, the main characters and begin telling your story aloud. If you can, record yourself via your computer or your phone. A great way to do that is to tell what you are going to talk about to a trusted friend, someone who would listen to you actively and reformulate what you really want to say.

Recently, I've been lucky enough to be interviewed by 2 trusted professionals, Susan Mazza and Lolly Daskal, for their Radio Show, You Matter.Initially, I thought I would mostly talk about my business. I eventually found myself telling the story of my life and the reasons why I was into a mission of empowering women to speak and to become leaders of their own life.We started talking without a clear set of questions. However, very soon, the underlying structure, pattern, emerged, and the story shaped into flesh and soul.I clearly expressed three major events in my life, which shaped my professional life, and highlighted three women mentors.Suzan and Lolly are talented coaches, interviewers," midwives of true selves". Merci.You can listen to this story here.

• Call your Superhero! Be the hero of your own life! Use your whole self (mind, body and heart) to express what you want to say. Deliver with passion. Believe in what you are going to talk about.Be 100% certain about your intention: why you want to speak, why does it matter? Identify with your purpose, your values and stretch yourself!

How do you do that? Recall your own success stories, these fabulous moments in your life where you experienced "flow", where you felt aligned with your values, purpose, skills and actions. Reconnect with the feelings and emotions associated with these experiences of success.If you had to name a character, a "hero", fictional, historical or ordinary, who would it be? Make it personal, make it fun, make it yours. How did you feel like, in that situation of excellence, of flow? The only limit is your imagination!

My own favorite superhero is Mrs Incredible, Helen, the elastic girl, with her incredible family!

Why? She seems to integrates brilliantly work and family, is (very) powerful and has a strong sense of humor. She's flexible, warm-hearted and leads a very simple life, most of the time...

Don't get me wrong, I don't take myself for a Superhero! I can only too easily identify plenty of other role models (Garfield, Coyotte, Lucy in Peanuts, Droopy or the ugly little duck...)

But this little figurine keeps me focus, it stands on my laptop, sometimes in my pocket and gives me strangely confidence, when I need to stretch like an elastic out of my comfort zone, especially!

• Follow the magical "Rule of Three". The best stories always follow the Rule of Three.There were the three musketeers, the three little pigs, Goldilock and the three bears...

Think of the generic three-panel daily comic strip.

In the fairy tales,Jack and the Beanstalk

Jack and the Beanstalk

has Jack climb the beanstalk three times.

The wicked stepmother visits Snow White in the forest three times before she finally causes her to fall dead.

Rumpelstiltskin spins three times for the heroine and lets her guess his name three times and days.

Wicked Stepmother

 

Rumpelstiltskin

Rumpelstiltskin is a character in a fairy tale of the same name that originated in Germany . The tale was collected by the Brothers Grimm, who first published it in the 1812 edition of Children's and Household Tales...

Regarding the rule of three in presentations, much has been said already, so I recommend you read some excellent articles and tips from Max Atkinson and Nick Morgan.

Andrew Logan, in 6 minutes tells us how using the rule of three can improve your speeches by:

1. Writing triads of words, phrases, and sentences
2. Applying three-part speech outlines.
3. Adding an unexpected twist to the third element   (from BoomBoomBoom to BoomBoomBANG!)
   

        

“We find something complete and satisfying in a group of three, like a three-legged stool that can stand firmly on uneven ground”  Nick Morgan

"One of the attractions of the three-part lists is that they create an impression of completeness. Lists with only two items in them sound inadequate, while lists of four items or more are more difficult for an audience to take in." Max Atkinson.

Take Action, now!

Use the power of Comics and Storytelling

• What is Your Story?

• Who is Your Superhero?

• How could You use The Rule of Three?

Believe in Yourself and Speak Up!

If "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."  as Mahatma Gandhi said, then when I express myself via comics, stories and fairy tales, I feel happy and in harmony!

Next post will be how to use comics "figurines" to improve confidence, develop focus and achieve your goals.

Tough New-Yorker No Nonsense Style

“Believe That There Are No Limitations, No Barriers to Your Success – You Will Be Empowered and You Will Achieve.”

 

 Angela Burns, could represent The Achiever Communication style, in my series about Women Speakers

 January, with  Meg Whitman, The laser Light with a Big Smile, illustrating the Persuader Communication Style,

 

February, with Gail Evans, with Play like a Man, Win like a Woman, for the Pioneer communication style.

If you're curious  about the 12 Communication styles, please read my latest post the SPM Profiling Tool Innovative, Cross-cultural and 21st century ready.

• What are the Key characteristics of The Achiever Style?

Achievers bring to their organisations a determination to achieve and an effective, focused and fast-paced working style.

Sensitive to concrete results, Achievers are more comfortable with concise and factual information rather than too much detail.

Assertive and direct, they can become blunt and impatient under stress.

(from the Spony Profiling Model Feedback Guide)

• What are the Key characteristics of the opposite style, The facilitator?

Facilitators are viewed as friendly, spending time seeking agreement and consensus.

Good at listening, they are sometimes seen to be too dependent on other people's opinions, or lacking effectiveness.

They communicate with enthusiasm, show empathy, maintain eye contact, are expressive, understanding. Under stress, they can become emotional and irrational.

• Why is Ursula Burns best to represent The  dilemna between Achiever and Facilitation Communication Style?

Hard-charging and blunt, Burns admitted to “letting my big mouth drive the discussion” and conceded, “Patience is not one of my strengths.”

 She has never been shy about speaking her mind.

Some people gave her sound advices:

At Xerox, one of her mentors, Mr Hicks advised her to "make people feel comfortable by listening carefully, not to intimidate them!" (communicating more as a "Facilitator")

Her best mentor and coach, after her mother, is of course Ann Calaway, former CEO of Xerox. Ann Callaway said: "You have to develop more of a poker face because people will watch you for everything."

"On my face, you could tell everything in 30 seconds. You could tell exasperation. You could tell fed-up-ness."

Ursula Burns listened to her mentors, but not to people who told her to adjust her speaking style. People told her that it was "too New York"- too fast, too informal.

“What I realized was I have to know my content and know what I want to say, and be significantly less concerned about how I say it,” she says.

• What's in it for YOU?

If you identify with the Achiever's style of communication and leadership:

Be cautious about not becoming too blunt or impatient.

Ask for feedback.

Find yourself a mentor and listen to her, to him.

Observe leaders around you who display more the characteristics of the Facilitator style and see what you can learn from them.

Learn to listen

Express empathy

and let go of the pressure for results, once in a while...

It's one of the 6 dilemna, coping both with a desire to achieve results and expressing consideration for others.

I'm feeling terribly shy to pretend to give any advice to this awesome woman...

What can be said for Her?

In her speeches to students, like at Syracuse University , Ursula Burns could have been less serious,more engaging and have had an even greater impact.

She could improve simply by smiling more and making eye contact,(just like in the great smiling picture on the right!), staying less time on her notes, and more often with the audience. Notice how her face becomes animated and her eyes sparkle when she answers questions or tells us a story. She would also express a little more of who she is, communicating her formidable generosity and gift of giving.

So I would tell her to be even more of herself!

Tough New-Yorker No Nonsense Style!!!

 

“I can’t try to say it in somebody else’s voice. I have to say it in my voice.” Angela Burns

 

I believe in the power of examples and picked 12 famous women leaders, from different cultures, to illustrate each style of communication and leadership.These conclusions are based on my observations, perceptions and interpretations, since these women have not yet taken the SPM questionnaire.

6 Leadership Lessons From Ursula Burns:" Bold Bets and Back to Basics"

In order to study Ursula Burns' communication style, I watched several videos of her.

• Ursula Burns Speaks of Leadership
• YWCA Inspirational Words

It's incredible what we can have access to, now, thanks to the web.

I could even view a brilliant lecture, given by Ursula Burns at Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University, on May, 11th 2008. I felt like I was sitting in front of her, with the audience .

In this video, Ursula Burns shares her views on the challenges and opportunities facing leaders in corporate America, in Berman Lecture Series.

“Lessons of Leadership: Bold Bets and Back to Basics."

It' a long speech (one hour). I just took notes for you via this MindMap of the six points she very clearly made, in order to visualize them and reflect.

Six Very Simple Things: Basics!

• The Power of Communication
• The Power of Culture
  
• The Power of Vision
• The Power of People
• The Power of Customer
• The Value of Leadership

As Angela Burns admits, she doesn't read a lot of business books. That 's why these 6 lessons make so much sense .

These lessons are taken from hard work, great results, dedicated people.

They don't come from leadership theories, but from years of experience. (Ursula Burns entered Xerox as an intern in the summer of 1980!)

No fancy words, Bold Bets and Back To Basics!

What can women and men too,learn from such a successful Role Model?

This applies for this major corporation, but I believe it boils down to the same basics, for a small business,for a team and for an individual.

Imagine you start on a coaching journey:

• First, start by being blunt honest about who you are: clear communication about where you are NOW.

• Look at your own "culture", your core values and beliefs.

• Then  picture yourself at the front page (vision board exercise) "What would you want to read about yourselves? What great work are you going to do?" What do you want to be famous for? How do you want to be remembered?

• People. "Good people aligned around a common goal could do just anything". Align yourself first with your values,around your vision, and then reach for others. Consolidate the basis.

• Who are you serving? What's Your Mission?

• Eventually, be a good leader of your life: consistent, honest,forceful and clear.

You will move mountains.

Next, on Geronimo...Tough New Yorker No Nonsense Communication Style!

1.  Corporate Fairy Tale
2.  6 Leadership Lessons
3. Tough New Yorker No Nonsense Style

Waiting eagerly for your comments and reactions!

Ursula Burns Speaks : On Leadership

What Ursula Burns learned from Anne Mulcahy

• It's all about Every Body Else

• It's about being associated with greatness, it's not about being great!

• You have to keep an eye on what's important here, then everything else will kind of fold into place.

It makes me smile, because it's almost word for word what her mother told her :

  “You have to be good people. And you have to be successful. You have to give more than you take away from the world.’ ”

"  You have to perform at your best. You have to worry about the things you can control. "

Smoothest Transition from Mulcahy to Burns: Sisterhood at The Workplace?