TechReady12: Storytelling

Last Thursday was our presentation (we, the three book authors) at the annual Microsoft Conference “TechReady12.” It went fabulously, with great reviews, attendance and feedback (the seminars are always graded by the attendees).

One of the things that struck me the most, and in which I am most encouraged by, was a predominant topic which is not always common to tech-based business: “soft skills.” In this technological age, and in this techie city, it is truly refreshing to talk to so many people that are so passionate about forming and telling stories as a valuable commodity, when working on influencing and facilitating discussions and decisions for projects IT-based projects. Let’s be clear, the book is not solely meant for IT audiences, but it is an one of several target audiences.

Telling stories are so valuable in a day and age of disconnects, and work that can often be less-than memorable in nature. Stories bring intention and connection to our work, and a sense of genuine regard for bringing a “personal face” to the work we do. When we frame our persuasive presentations in the context of something real and tangible, it can not only provide a certain entertainment value, but as Martin mentioned in the presentation, audiences can relate more personally, and it can become the “story that sticks” in your mind, having a greater tendency to inspire decision-makers and stake-holders to take more immediate action, because they feel a greater sense of “urgency.”

In our social interactions—whether we realize it or not—telling stories are what we do as human beings to connect and create memories that allow us to share, where we can feel like we’re a part of something much bigger.

The presentation on Thursday reminded me that any perceived “differences” amongst a predominantly IT-based crowd are somewhat superficial when we have the opportunity to experience living “in the moment” with others, sharing some context of our lives, and what we are passionate about.

Sharing our stories, whether for business or for living, creates understanding that blurs the boundaries of any perceived differences, or at least—it can bring us one step closer to realizing that we are all part of something much bigger than our everyday sensory experience tells us—we’re part of a bigger community that is not solely about gadgets and data (yours truly can be a true digit head sometimes). It’s an important reminder of how relevant the human side of doing “good-business” can be, and that it’s actually all around us—if we choose to grasp the reins and take the chance.

I am excited and encouraged to continue work on the book.

:)

m

Flexibility

There is no way to know that you’ve got it. So it’s a poor strategy to assume it, because if you assume that you have the ultimate then you won’t look for anything else, and therefore it will tend to trap you.”

~David Bohm

Happy Valentines Day folks!

I am actually posting a few hours before Monday starts this week, as I have a busy week ahead of me.

I have a new client first thing in the morning, as well as a speaking engagement at “TechReady12” later in the week, in front of various Microsoft folks, along with my fellow book authors. We’re looking forward to a grand time.

That said, my brief reflection this week revolves around keeping your mind open and flexible.

Over the last few days, I continue to struggle with something that might be considered a little seasonal affective disorder (SAD). With that in mind, I needed to consider ways to be as proactive as possible—and basically do something about it.

There is the mind, there is the body, and then there is the movement, or the action (they are not always the same). For me, happiness starts with the awareness and ability to see and observe, with as little judgment as possible. What’s going on, and how do I feel? Can I make this observation without attaching too much weight, and just take action, in my winter doldrums, to do something about it?

How does anyone find motivation to follow that which they really love?

For me, it involves using all aspects of my mind and body; from exercise, to diet, to thought, thought-patterns, and learning, I am seeing more and more how they are all so intertwined and connected. I think that’s truly fascinating.

When I experience a feeling of disconnection, and I cannot maintain focus, I try not to judge myself, and focus on two things:

1. Not giving myself a hard time about it (I’m human, and life and learning are a process).
2. Objectively considering what I might be able to do about it.

My quote above is about being open to the source(s) of knowledge. We’re always learning, and hopefully we’re always improving. I needed to improve today, as the last 24 hours have had me feeling “trapped” and out of sync with myself. What seems to have saved me this time was a good evening run, to cultivate the creation of endorphins in my body.

The next time you are not quite “feeling like yourself,” think about ways you might cultivate a new point of view. Is it reading a new book or magazine? Trying a new dish at your favorite restaurant, or in your kitchen? Talking to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, or even someone who has challenged you in the past? Or heck, maybe it’s adding a few extra mile in your running routine, or trying some new form of exercise.

These things are all inextricably connected, and progress or stagnation in one area may ultimately have an impact on others. 

The key is:

1. Looking for leverage points for change (are you feeling a sense of resistance in one area or more, where it might even feel like a small war being fought around something that’s just not working for you). Chances are, if you are feeling resistance to something, there is some learning and room for change there that might benefit you. 
2. And perhaps more importantly, simply being open to trying things.

David Bohn writes about “Thought as a System,” and I challenge you to think about how various processes are all connected. I also quoted Sting in my last post, and will quote him again, ending with this:

“If you have an inflexible mind, your body is not flexible either.”

Be well, and know I will run with you anytime—it’s an invitation—whatever form of mind or body exercise may work for you-

m

Navigating the What, Why and How

“I don’t think that anything that doesn’t involve a risk is worth doing. There needs to be some element of danger, some element of me completely failing, for the thing to be worthwhile. When you succeed against that, it feels so much better.” ~Gordon Sumner (Sting)

As the winter grey settles on Seattle, or rather—settles on me…

I contemplate ways to stay energized and motivated to keep moving forward, stay agile, and not become too “sterile” in my thoughts and actions this winter. This quote from Sting gave me a very important reminder about what’s important with creativity, growth, moving forward and yes­—taking risks.

In retrospect, I look back at moments as a college teacher and trainer, and cannot help but wonder how impossible it can be to try and put the creative design process on a “schedule.” From my perspective, it seems like fact-finding and analysis lend themselves better to scheduled periods of time, but creative insight and vision is less prone to happen when you want it to. Sure, it can happen at the right time, but often it happens at the “wrong time,” when you are trying to take a shower, go for a run, listen to someone trying to speak to you, or when you are trying to eat dinner.

The whole process of design involves what I might call, “multi-tiered thinking.” It involves objective analysis and fact-finding, and it also involves the seemingly ambiguous, grey area of creativity and unique insights. These insights can sometimes feel like they come out of nowhere when working on client problems. That said, by applying some “focused chaos,” in your design thinking, unique client truths can often emerge.

It considers the What (client project needing a solution), the Why (and why the product or service is important to the client and the stakeholders, advancing their business and values) and the How (i.e. Research & Development, knowing the customer, and visually supporting the establishment of current and future needs).

About The How: Creativity… lies in “The Gap.”

Creativity: partially happens through enlightened trial-and-error (also known as risk-taking) as you navigate the options in the great unknown.

For the sake of a new viewpoint, let’s call the great unknown “The Gap.” When we create anything, an important dependency I see is the intricate relationship between that which we desire to create, and the emptiness it must inevitably come from. Sometimes viewed as a very “spiritual place,” the emptiness is also an orientation towards being open minded, flexible, and… silent.

Shhh…

Forcing creativity upon a schedule is sometimes a challenge, but it seems to like somewhere between silence of thought, and distraction (going into other actions that inspire thought in a more spontaneous way).

Let’s shift gears slightly then, and get a little philosophical for a minute. Contemplate this:

What would a drum beat sound like, if the sticks never left the drum—or remained suspended in the air?

Not quite the same as the “tree falling in the forest not making noise question,” but I suspect the sticks need to be suspended in the air at some point, or else it would be one big cacophony of nonsense! A critical piece of this equation is suspending your judgment, and letting “new ideas” take hold: letting the sound resonate in the silence, and considering new and more “risky” solutions. Mind you, they may not always end up in the final solution, but you can’t argue that they at least give you something to build on, right?

It’s the figure AND the ground, the background AND the foreground, the curious interplay and juxtaposition of the elements in which these “Yin-Yang qualities” allow for creation to occur. We need to experience the space before and after the note. This allows for the recognition of the sound.

Wayne Dyer has written a lot about The Gap, check out his work and how he talks about The Gap and forms of meditation. 

In conclusion, I challenge you to remember three things:

1.     Practice ways to create silence (i.e. meditation as an example) and clear your thoughts to allow room for creation.

2.     Keep body and mind flexible. Like Sting, connecting body and mind can keep you more agile, adaptable and able to navigate change more easily.

3.     Remember it’s a process. Schedule as much as needed, but leave time for spontaneous ideation. Navigating design, creativity and ideation can be fun, and you can move through it with ease, but that does not mean it’s always easy. Engaging the challenges of a problem with the curiosity to use discipline and spontaneity can go a long way…

If nothing else, remember that what IS in your design, will usually—if not always—be just as important as what IS NOT in your solution.

m