April 2008 • Journal 01 • Issue 01

Communication

Communication
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The Life Blood of Any Organization

Just as blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the organs and muscles of the human body, the process of communication infuses every aspect of an organization with life. And, just as blood carries away spent cells and impurities, so too, the return loop of communication does a healing work.

Leaders understand how important good communication is and how much our media savvy culture creates the need for an ever-increasing skill set.

Like me, you communicate every day through the conversations, presentations, emails, writing assignments, and meetings you are responsible for. Like me, you are always looking for ways to improve and methods for sharpening your skills.

This inaugural issue of noredcapes.com focuses on the theme of communication. Like the issues to come, this one includes a combination of articles, downloadable resources, and book reviews that orbit around the hub of communication. I hope they stimulate new thinking and new behavior in you.

Specifically, check out the article, “The Power of Airtime.” It takes a fresh look at how the substance of corporate communication shapes your organizational culture. The resource: “Leaders Connect the Dots” unpacks the essence of a simple practice that can radically shape the awareness and ownership of your vision among your people. I’ve also included reviews of two books I recommend which will inform your communication practices.

The subject of communication is clearly much bigger than these few initial offerings. But at the same time, I hope these ideas start your wheels turning in new ways.

Signature of Gary Mayes

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Articles

Vision
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In any organization, the very things that create your capacity for accomplishment, progress, impact, etc. create friction. In an engine, there are only two ways to overcome the deadly heat caused by friction: shut down or use oil. Similarly, every organization requires oil and that oil is vision.

Introducing “No Red Capes”
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In the realm of leadership mythology there is an illusion that emasculates scores of people who have legitimate capacity to influence others. That illusion? True leaders a rare breed of exceptionally gifted people able to make others and organizations to leap tall buildings with a single bound.

Resources

Overcoming the Half-Life of Vision

Understanding the concept of a half-life: simple... Recognizing its impact on those you lead: profound... Knowing it was birthed out of a parallel to radioactivity: ominous. The point? “Vision has a half-life of seven days!” A half-life of seven days means the potency of your vision in the minds and motivations of your people diminishes by half every week. It also means that in a mere 28 days what was originally powerful will be impotent.

Redefining Visionary Leadership

We frequently talk and act as if the most important criteria of leaders is the ability to create and communicate vision single-handedly. We expect leaders to develop vision from scratch and then articulate it with god-like inspiration. As a result, scores of people devalue their capacity for leadership for the simple fact that they don’t excel at this full-feature visionary role. This article attempts to redefine visionary leadership.

The Power of a Stump Speech

This unique challenge of politics is the territory that gave birth to the notion of a stump speech. Others have called it an “elevator speech.” No matter what you call it, the point is simple: if you cannot communicate your central message in 30 seconds you won’t be able to communicate it effectively in 30 minutes.

Crafting Vision

The power of vision does not come from believing it is important, but in the vision itself. This simple article is written as a primer to provide you with a process for crafting vision that is compelling and clear enough to communicate.

Reviews

“Church Unique” – Wil Mancini
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Will Mancini's book doesn't just make a case for vision, but he does some unique work on how vision can be developed and how it serves to fuel a missional movement.

“Visioneering” – Andy Stanley
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Andy Stanley is a good leader and in this classic book, he unpacks his thoughts on visionary leadership.

“Built to Last” – Jim Collins
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Jim Collin's description of "Big Hairy Audacious Goals" brings the notion of vision down to managable reality. Many leaders will find that BHAGs serve a visionary function.

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