5. 1. TELLING AN INSPIRING STORY
(What are we trying to do here?)
6. Why Anyone Bothers To Work
• All three = ideal
• 2 out of 3 = okay
• 1 out of 3 = vulnerable
• 0 = disastrous
• They score themselves
• You or colleague scores
them independently
• Compare and discuss
differences
7. Explain Your Strategy Visually
• One diagram can be clearer
than 10 pages
• Take 2 most important variables
• Variable X = Morale? Margin?
• Variable Y = Skills? Churn?
• Compare with competitors
• Show direction of travel if
adopting your L&D strategy
• Plot progress over time
8. Explain Why It Is What It Is
• Tell an engaging story
• Start broad (10 options)
• Then reduce (3 options)
• Consider, then reject with
authority after investigation
• One clear recommendation
• Explain what is feasible
• Tell story of your battles
9. Anchor The Theme
• Explain the central thought
clearly – the shorter the better
• Sub ideas demonstrate fertility
• Map out how all the elements
are interrelated
• Confirm relevance of each
component
• “This bit works because it fits
in with this bit…”
10. Pinpoint The Bravery Level
• How adventurous is the
company culture?
• What standards are expected?
• How brave have we been in
the past?
• How brave should we be now?
• Set appropriate expectations
11. Knock Down Barriers To Acceptance
• Budget holder or staff
• What are the likely
objections to the plan?
• How many are there?
• How do we knock them
down?
• One at a time?
• All at once?
• In what sequence?
12. How To Confuse Everybody
• Hubs within hubs
• Double-headed arrows
• Dotted lines
• Snake’s honeymoon
• Does anyone understand it?
• Simpler is better
13. How To Clarify Responsibility
• Simple and clear
• Nothing dotted, two-way or
sideways
• Everyone knows where
they stand
• Subordinates know
precisely who is in charge
of their development
14. Understand The Rhythm Of The Year
• Full year plans are usually
unrealistic
• Decision windows: all the right
decision makers present?
• Crisis bombs: same time
every year?
• Can almost always predict
when things will happen
• Realistic forecasting, fewer
surprises
15. The Motivational Dip
• Honeymoon period always fun
• But it never lasts
• Learning & Understanding
phase becomes vital
• Ends in success or tears
• Start by analyzing
relationships retrospectively
• Use learning to predict
• Moment of dip can almost
always be anticipated
16. Anticipating The Dips
• Plot morale for the year
• Map out intended initiatives
for the year
• Spread out evenly to keep
spirits as high as possible
• Anticipate by announcing
next thing before the next
low morale point
• Use to offset “What have the
Romans ever done for us?”
18. The Priority Matrix
• Urgent + Important =
do now
• Urgent + Not Important =
delegate/do quickly
• Important + Not Urgent =
Think, plan properly, and
stick to it
• Neither = Ignore or cancel
19. The Growing Pane
• Old/good: confirm relevance
• New/good: inspire more
• Old/bad: ditch now
• New/bad: work out why, and
be aware of emotional and
financial commitment
20. Ditching The Essay Crisis Mentality
• Human nature to delay, but
don’t
• It’s a student hangover
• Convene decision makers
in first 24 hours
• Set direction, brief experts,
course correct if necessary
• Allows for refinements
• Increases quality all round
21. The IF Triangle
• Essence of any negotiation
• They can have any two
• Too much pressure on all
three = collapse
• Start all sentences with
“If…”
• “If you require x, we require
y in return...”
22. Plan Your Negotiations Properly
• Always plan a negotiation
• Must limit
• Intend level
• Wish list
• What matters to each side
is usually different
• Understand trading
variables and trade what
you don’t need for what
they want
23. How To Be A Sensitive Boss
• They’ve done it before: direct
• They haven’t: coach
• They have once or twice:
support
• They’re sick of doing it:
reinvigorate
• May need a different
approach for every person,
every task, every day
• Ask the subordinate first
24. Changing The Language Of Conflict
• When it has all become too
personal…
• Let’s deal with ‘it’
• Not ‘I’, ‘me’, or ‘you’
• “This problem is quite
tricky isn’t it? How can ‘we’
solve ‘it’?”
25. The Cone of Experience?
• Read > Hear > See > See &
Hear > Say > Say & Do
• Actively doing things is best
• Do a diagram on the spot
and apply it immediately
• Remote learning homework
more likely when it’s fun
• If you remember 50% of this
I’ll have done well
26. THE INTERACTIVE KIT BOX
• THE BOOK
• STARTER
TEMPLATES
• BLANKS
• SHARPIE PEN
• BE INSPIRED
& DESIGN
YOUR OWN
• PUZZLE
27. AND FINALLY, A PUZZLE FOR YOU...
Draw nine dots on a
blank page like this.
Now try to join all the
dots using no more
than four lines, and
without taking the pen
off the paper.