"The" Woman?

This is a blog dedicated to “speakers for change” and all who want to drive change in their part of the world. One topic which should interest us all is therefore how men and women found their roles in this world – or how they have come to play them.

This time I would like to simply recommend the following documentary, unfortunately only in German or French, but as a lot of interviews are done with US experts, there is also plenty material in English:

http://videos.arte.tv/de/videos/und_hollywood_erschuf_die_frau-6393552.html (German with French option)

It shows how different types of women are represented and shaped through movie culture, how the definition of their roles developed over the last years in American film and how it shaped and still shapes female behaviors – and male looks.

“Branding” is about creating an image in the eyes and in the mind of the viewers.  A female expert is always checked twice – first as “the” woman and only second as an expert. The question is how YOU – as a man or a as woman – are dealing with that and how aware are you of that bias? Only if we are aware of who we really could be – beyond whatever role or stereotype – we (men and women) can create those individual images which are truely reflecting ourselves.

Attention! the movie is online only for a few days!

The findings suggest that the risk of receiving stress-related medication increases significantly for employees at organizations that change, especially those that undergo broad simultaneous changes along several dimensions. (Source: Management Science, 09/2010) Specific importance are attributed to change requests in employees’ cooperation and communication patterns. “Such changes concern the daily routines of the employees and create therefore a lot of stress and feelings of uncertainty,” says Dahl (Source: managerSeminare January 2012).

Fact is that communication and cooperation patterns are only the visible part of relationships between people and are therefore a direct expression of a persons’ personality. Programs that ought to change such patterns are hence specifically stressful as people enter into conflict with themselves.

Good leadership communication plays a crucial role in helping collaborators to overcome the internal barriers of change and be able to adapt new routines. Leaders have to play two different and equally important roles:

1. the role of the role model: when change is required the leader must live it first
2. the role of the lighthouse: winds of change can feel for some of your employees like long awaited breezes of oxygen and for others like tornados. But in any case it needs the lighthouse to show the direction and give certainty in troubled waters

Let me give you four concrete tips regarding point two:

1. KEEP YOUR DOOR OPEN – at least at clearly defined times. SHOW RELIABLE PRESENCE. A lot of managers are tempted to retreat in order to become less vulnerable in hard times but the contrary is necessary right now. DIRECT DIALOGUE with all concerned groups is vitally important in times of change.
2. Define your MAIN MESSAGES, BELIEFS and VALUES and don’t become tired of repeating them and yourself every day. When old routines have to be broken new ones have to be established. Only routine provides the certainty and structure for an organization to become productive – in a climate of constant change no one can be productive on a larger scale. This is also why simultaneous changes on several levels or subsequent changes of direction are that destructive.
3. SMILE MORE OFTEN. A genuine smile not only provides a feeling of well-being but also tells the others that you are approachable, cooperative and trustable. More so, if you smile, most of the times the other person automatically smiles back and as our facial expressions trigger corresponding feelings this smile also changes the feelings in that person in a positive way.
4. EXERCISE THE ART OF ACTIVE LISTENING. Turn your head and torso to face the person who is speaking directly, make eye contact, lean forward. Nod from times to time and tilt your head slightly. Avoid any kind of multi-tasking (checking your notes or smart-phone, etc.)

That sounds simple – and yes, sometimes it is enough to do simple things repeatedly in order to make difficult things more easy.

Inspiration for Speaking

No matter what we are doing or what our goals are: what we all need in order to go on is INSPIRATION. With this edition of the Blog I would like to offer you some links, books and seminars which I have found to be specifically inspiring. (If you look for inspiration in German, please switch to German site) . Maybe there is even something you want to put on your last minute Christmas wishlist…

I. LINKS

• PRESENTATION ZEN: http://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/ - blog for great presentations by Garr Reynolds
• BODY TALK: http://www.nonverbaladvantage.com/blog/ - a blog focussing on the non-verbal level of communication
• GREAT SPEECHES OF THE 20TH CENTURY: http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/series/greatspeeches
• BRAINY QUOTE: http://www.brainyquote.com/ - famous quotes
• GLOBAL REVOLUTIONS: http://www.scoop.it/t/global-revolutions/ - a collection of all kinds of revolutions going on in the world
• BUSINESS QUOTES: http://www.facebook.com/Quotes.Business - subscribe in Twitter and get your daily quotes for inspiration
• MANNER OF SPEAKING: http://mannerofspeaking.org/ - speech analyses, tips for speaking and quotes

II. BOOKS

• SAVING PERSUASION – A Defense of Rhetoric and Judgement, Bryan Garsten, 2009, First Harvard University Press
• PRESENTATIONS IN ACTION – 80 Memorable Presentation Lessons from the Masters, Jerry Weissman, 2011, FT Press
• presentationzen DESIGN – Simple Design Principles and Techniques to Enhance Your Presentations, Garr Reynolds, 2010, New Riders
• resonate – Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences, Nancy Duarte, 2010, Wiley
• POWER DRESSING, First Ladies, Women Politicians & Fashion, Robb Young, 2011, Merrell 

III. SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS (click on title for details):

• HOW TO BECOME A REBEL, for all who want to start their own, personal revolution in 2012: Monday, January 2nd
• CHARISMA and PRESENCE: AUTHENTICALLY ME, 5-evenings-Workshop for all who are interested in the topic: starts Januar 23, 2012
• CHARISMATIC LEADERSHIP – CHARISMATIC COMMUNICATION, Workshop for leaders: March 1 – 2, 2012

IV. ANNOUNCEMENT:

Next week our December-January NEWSLETTER dedicated to FUTURE-WORK willbe out. We will feature expert speakers around the question “HOW WILL WE WORK IN THE FUTURE?”(and how will this change the way we lead?)

STAY TUNED and have an INSPIRED & INSPIRING WEEK!