Three Keys To Leading From Anywhere

My work life has occurred in two parts. The first was before I discovered leadership storytelling. Then came the exciting half in which I was able to inspire people to think and act differently and show others how leadership can come from anywhere.

Before I discovered business narrative, I was a left-brained analytic manager, competent, filling a role in a major organization, and succeeding. But I was constrained by the roles and rules of a bureaucracy.

Once I got the hang of business narrative, things were different. To my surprise, I found I could inspire people to embrace bold new ideas. It led to major organizational change.

For a left-brained analytic introvert, the shift from competent manager to inspirational leader was a revelation.

An even bigger surprise is that today, leadership is no longer located just at the top. Now, in the digital economy, leadership is needed throughout the organization. In effect, everyone needs to be ready to spot opportunities and make change happen. That’s because the pace and complexity of change has accelerated. Most relevant expertise and understanding of customers is located throughout the organization and can’t wait for top-down directives.

For many, becoming a leader is daunting. ‘How,’ people ask me, ‘could I possibly lead when the higher-ups don’t listen?’ This is partly true: despite the pressing need for their firm to be more agile and responsive to customers’ needs, all too often the C-suite doesn’t want to change, is uncertain know how to change, and in some cases is being paid to maintain the status quo. But not entirely: once you know how to use storytelling to inspire change, the impossible becomes possible. You can become a change agent.

• The first step towards becoming a leader is realizing that leadership is not a matter of rank or role. Leaders don’t need permission to start leading. But the decision must come from you. You have to decide whether you are going to take charge of your own life, or let it be dictated by others.
• Once you’ve crossed that bridge, the second step is to figure out where you want to make a positive difference in the world.
• And third, you need to learn how you can use your lifelong experience of telling and listening to stories to connect with other people who can help you attain your goal..

What does this mean for you and your organization? Here are two ways to find out:

• Enroll in my FREE WEBINAR “Winning in The Age Of Digital” (1 hour online on August 25) Register here.
• Register yourself--and your team--in my EXECUTIVE TRAINING COURSE ‘Winning in The Age Of Digital’ on Oct 27, Nov 3 & 10. (12 hours, online) More details here. Register here .

Register for my FREE WEBINAR August 25th, 8am – 9am (PST)

In this quick introduction to the digital age, we will show what’s involved in leading in the digital economy, and how it bears on your own success. (Sponsored by The Rendanheyi Silicon Valley Center and given jointly with professors Bill Fischer, and Annika Steiber.)

Enroll in my online EXECUTIVE TRAINING COURSE Oct 27; Nov 3 & 10

This interactive course is for executives—individually or in teams—who want to enhance their understanding and leadership skills for the age of digital. The course will cover six key areas:

• Learning how to inspire others to change through leadership storytelling and lead from anywhere in the organization.
• Understanding the difference between industrial-era management and digital-age leadership.
• Mastering the three basic laws of the digital-era organization.
• Learning how to innovate by systematically creating new customer value.
• How you can create new businesses, digital platforms, and business ecosystems.
• Learning how to diagnose the status of your Agile initiatives and digital transformations.

Register here

Learn more here

The participants at the April iteration of the executive training course were unanimous in recommending the course. "Inspiring!" "Mind blowing!" and "Life changing" were some of the adjectives used.

Got a question about the course? For example, what's involved in enrolling your whole team, please send me an email. I'd be delighted to hear from you.

I hope you will join me in these two exciting events..

Warmly

Steve

P.S. If you know someone else who could benefit from these opportunities, please send them this email.

P.P.S. If you'd like to listen to the world's top experts discuss these issues in depth, then join me at the WORLD AGILITY FORUM on September 25-26 (6 hours online) Speakers include Aaron Bjork (Microsoft), Curt Carlson (former CEO, SRI), Michael Lurie, Darrell Rigby, Vivek Wadhwa Raymond Hofmann, Rita McGrath, Carlota Perez, Bill Fischer and Annika Steiber. Details here.

P.P.P.S. Read some of my recent Forbes articles about the age of digital:

• How Do You Change An Organizational Culture?
• How New Leadership Succeeds In The Digital Age
• How To Change (Almost) Anyone's Mind
• How To Lead Change From Anywhere