Page 282 - leadership-experience-2008

CikguOnline
CikguOnline
Consider This!

Opening a Window to a Brighter World
Getty Images A blind man was brought to the hospital. He was both

depressed and seriously ill. He shared a room with another
man, and one day asked, “What is going on outside?” The
man in the other bed explained in some detail about the
sunshine, the gusty winds, and the people walking along the sidewalk. The next day,
the blind man again asked, “Please tell me what is going on outside today.” The room-
mate responded with a story about the activities in a park across the way, the ducks
on the pond, and the people feeding them. The third day and each day thereafter for
two weeks, the blind man asked about the world outside and the other man answered,
describing a different scene. The blind man enjoyed these talks, and he grew happier
learning about the world seen through the window.
Then the blind man’s roommate was discharged from the hospital. A new room-
mate was wheeled in—a tough-minded businessman who felt terrible, but wanted to
get work done. The next morning, the blind man said, “Will you please tell me what is
going on outside?” The businessman didn’t feel well, and he didn’t want to be bothered
to tell stories to a blind man. So he responded assertively, “What do you mean? I can’t
see outside. There is no window here. It’s only a wall.”
The blind man again became depressed, and a few days later he took a turn for the
worse and was moved to intensive care.

Source: Based on a story the author heard at a spiritual service in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

and contemporary leaders as diverse as Reagan, Martin Luther King, Jr., Oprah
Winfrey, Steve Jobs, Aung San Suu Kyi, Bono, and Meg Whitman all share the
ability to powerfully communicate their messages to followers and others.

Leading Strategic Conversations

Strategic conversation refers to people talking across boundaries and hierarchical Strategic conversation
levels about the group or organization’s vision, critical strategic themes, and the communication that takes
place across boundaries and
values that can help achieve desired outcomes. Leaders facilitate strategic conver- hierarchical levels about the
sations by (1) asking questions and actively listening to others to understand their group or organization’s vision,
attitudes and values, needs, personal goals, and desires; (2) setting the agenda critical strategic themes, and
values that can help achieve
for conversation by underscoring the key strategic themes that are linked to desired outcomes

Exhibit 9.2 The Leader as Communication Champion

Purpose Directed
Strategic Direct attention to
Conversation Leader vision/values, desired
outcomes; use
Internal and Open climate as
External Asking questions persuasion
Sources Listening Communication Methods
Discernment Champion Use rich channels
Dialogue
Stories and metaphors
Informal communication

263