Just Story It

Eamonn O'Brien from Ireland interviewed me recently about the stories that need to be told in businesses now as we go through this pandemic. I hope the fun interview gives you a few great ideas. To help you with practical communication steps you can take today, download the Toolkit for communicating through a crisis here: http:www.karendietz.com/toolkit-cover

It's a new day and time for a new story for your organization that addresses inclusion and diversity. How to get started? Here are the first steps. Onward!

What an ingenious idea!! Dropbox has curated a list of folders from its users containing amazing bits and pieces of creativity for you to enjoy. These folders are packed full of goodies from artists and thinkers and makers. You can send a digital "care package" to someone you love. Or send some to yourself! They are designed to share.

This is a fab example of a company making a pivot during COVID-19, and being useful/helpful to others. Love that.

What ideas do these examples spark in you for your business?

Yes, this is so true! As companies and individuals need to pivot their work and get ready for the new normal, imagination is critical. This article from Harvard Business Review (HBR) gives you 3 ways to activate your imagination so you can continue to move forward.

I really like all of the questions listed in this article that can help you pivot or strengthen your business during this time of disruption. And the personal example shared from the aviation industry is great. I also really like the 4 action steps to take every day in your meetings that the author provided.

Pursue the answers to these questions, take the 4 steps (1 includes storytelling) and move forward.

I love the 10 strategies given in this free downloadable guide. During this time of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty it will increase your sense of direction, confidence, and capability in both personal and professional life. In the last 2 weeks, I've been living these strategies myself. They have been incredibly effective in producing positive results. Grab it now and get busy living these strategies. I appreciate Dan Sullivan for putting these together.

'Gotta love this! So timely. So helpful. We'll make it through this time, too.

Here's another inspiring story about how a company pivoted to keep its staff. Of note is how they engaged all the staff in the idea generation and solution finding activities. They co-created their new reality using commonly used story sharing and story collecting techniques. It's a win for all. You can do this too. Way to go Gravity!

And yes, you can do this too in your business. Or maybe it's a PSA for your company from your team. Find your voice. Be helpful. Get creative.

What a great post! The 3 Fundamentals will allow any leader to shift into creative solutions for operating in our current Pandemic realities. I particularly like the one that talks about getting your employees involved in generating solutions. And connecting with your company's purpose/vision is one of the most powerful ways to flip into seeing opportunities for moving forward. Don't miss this read.

What a great story! This is one kind of story we need to hear these days during the crisis -- how companies are creatively responding. What I love about this story is the owner of the fine-dining restaurant was clear about his purpose. That allowed him to think in new ways to keep his business alive and all of his staff employed. Bottom line -- the purpose/vision of a company is not a "nice to have" -- it's essential because that is the key to decision making during a crisis. Use this story for inspiration and shaping your next steps.

Here is a free 45-page Toolkit full of practical examples, 2 models, and 3 processes for how to communicate through this crisis. It contains step-by-step instructions you can immediately implement. Communicate in ways that grow trust, hope, and humanity.  Don't leave without it. r

Here is a 30-minute interview I did recently on Data Storytelling with my colleague Lianne Picot. I talk about what it is, and what it's not -- along with better ways to think about effective data storytelling. The second part of the interview is on using story in your job search. Both topics are so timely today! enjoy.

Reframing is an essential shift to make to respond effectively during any crisis or change. This post explains what reframing is and gives us 4 essential questions that will shift perspectives. I love that. Very practical steps that will make a difference. Go ahead and try it. You've got nothing to lose.

Short, sweet and to the point.

As Seth says, "Given that everything is going to be the way it’s going to be, we’re left with an actually useful and productive question instead: “What are you going to do about it?”

What is your action for today that moves yourself and others forward?

We need more of these kinds of stories! Enjoy this piece, the creative ideas, and the forward movement that's happening.

A wonderful change! My software engineer husband Tim has been telecommuting at work for 10+ years. Most of my work is also done virtually in our shared office space. So we are used to the ebb and flow of our work. But his team meetings have changed lately. Here's how:

1. Yes, they still have team meetings to tackle work issues -- which also get handled via IM, email, etc.
2. But now they have added weekly social team meetings. I now hear lots more laughter and lighthearted comments. Here's what they did at the last meeting, and you can do it too! Feel free to copy and paste:

For our next Catch Up, we may be playing a ‘get to know each other better’ game.  It goes like this:

X will pick someone and that person starts by picking a person and a prompt.  After the person completes their response, they choose the next person and prompt.  This continues on until all have responded.  Of course, the same prompt can be given to more than one person.  You can also allow the person to pick their own prompt from among the following:

1. Choose your own.
2. What was your biggest failure in the kitchen (or grill)?
3. Tell us a little about your first job.
4. What's the worst job you've ever had, and what did you learn from it?
5. What's something you love to do but haven't lately made time to do it (and keep it clean!)?
6. Give us a tour of your home 'office'.
7. Tell us about a specific accomplishment you are proud of.
8. What do you do to recharge or relax after work?
9. Tell us something interesting about one of your relatives.
10. What is one of your guilty pleasures?
11. What are you most grateful for?
12. Tell us about some of your tips for staying fit and healthy (food, exercise, etc.).
13. What is one thing you are doing while staying at home (that you didn’t get to do while working from the office?)

Get ready to spill your guts, y’all!

When working/connecting virtually it's critical to keep focusing on relationships in addition to the tasks. So when you are on a virtual call -- whether it's a work meeting, coffee/cocktail hour, or social get together -- here are 10 fabulous questions to ask. I like them because it helps us all find additional ways to share about our new reality.

Grab these and keep them close. I've used many of these recently in my phone calls with colleagues and clients. They work like a charm and deepen the relationship. Always a good thing!

I ran across this story today that reminded me of what is really important these days. Enjoy.

Anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Mead to talk about fishhooks or clay pots or grinding stones.

But Mead said that the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur (thighbone) that had been broken and then healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, get to the river for a drink or hunt for food. You are meat for prowling beasts. No animal survives a broken leg long enough for the bone to heal.

"A broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery. Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts," Mead said.

We are at our best when we serve others. Be civilized.

~ Ira Byock, *The Best Care Possible: A Physician’s Quest to Transform Care Through the End of Life"

The 7 tips here are solid and useful reminders for us as leaders dealing with the pandemic. I like it because the post is both about personal self-care and the care of others in the companies we run. Keep it handy.

There is a critical need for effective storytelling today during the COVID-19 crisis. But it is extremely hard to find it actually happening as companies send us bulletins instead of humanized communication. It's based in faulty thinking that straight information offers hope, reassurance, and trust. It does not.

Actually, it's HUMANIZED communication that brings hope, reassurance and trust. FINALLY I found an example of humanized communication. I took notes on the structure and here it is:

1. The Why -- why I am here talking with you today. It's personal and not corporate speak.
2. My Decision Making Process -- the process he went through mentally, what he said to others, what he actually did to come to his decision. He asked himself what action can he take to save the most lives possible.
3. The problem he faced in making the decision
4. The strategy to implement
5. The decision he made to implement the strategy
6. Clarification -- what this means, what to do, what not to do
7. Our heroes today are...
8. Reminder of past crises we've made it through
9. Key Message -- we will rise to this occasion, too.

Right on. The only more humanizing element I would add is to name real people throughout the story he shared. People connect more to real names of real people. Their brain lights up in more positive ways -- and the impact is more powerful. Always a good thing.

So watch the video to see this story structure in real time. Then do this yourself for your business. Use this story structure internally with your staff, vendors, and stakeholders. Then share it with your clients and the public. Yes, the public needs to hear what you are doing so they have more hope, reassurance, and trust in you.  It will make a difference for you and all involved. Time to get busy.