Along with Tracey Roy Williams, sales manager for Charles Reinhart Realtors, and many other amazing women business leaders in southeast Michigan, I’ll be presenting at the WXW Forum 2009: Now We’re Talking on May 15th. We’d love to have you join us!

On May 15th, WXW is hosting its dynamic, fun-filled forum for women business leaders. The day-long event provides an interactive and lively experience with regional speakers, workshops, breakout sessions, and networking activities.  There is so much scheduled, we can’t fit it all in this tiny blurb; check out the entire speaker list and full agenda here.

The WXW conference is the premier Washtenaw County event for businesswomen. We expect over 300 attendees from Washtenaw County, Southeast Michigan, and Northeast Ohio. Online registration is strongly encouraged. Tickets are selling fast. Walk-in registrants will pay additional fees -$140 Full Day / $99 Half Day.

WXW hosts this conference each year to engage the business community and work through the common issues women business leaders face while trying to grow their companies.  Last year attendees asked for an all-day event, and we love to give WXW fans exactly what they ask for.

Click here to register!

Technorati Tags: WXW, Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw, women business leaders, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Southeast Michigan, Carrie Hensel, Debra Power, Tracey Roy Williams

After a delayed flight and a wrong-way ride on the Metro, I arrived at my hotel too late to participate in the opening evening of the 9th Annual Story Weekend in Washington, D.C. last Thursday. While I was really disappointed, the remaining two days, by a wide margin, made up for that first evening’s mix-up.

The weekend itself, sponsored by the Smithsonian Resident Associate Program and Golden Fleece, was an incredible collection of experiences and interactions – way too much to cover in one blog post. Today, I present a few nuggets that stand out for me as representative of the value and power of story to impact our workplaces – and our own working experiences – in a powerful way.

Why Story Matters Today

In the opening session on Friday, Storytelling Passport to the 21st Century, author and leadership consultant, Steve Denning, reminded us that, statistically, only 21% of people in the workplace are fully engaged in their work. Although he left it unspoken, that leaves 79% of the working population who are either not engaged – essentially checked out or sleepwalking through their day, or actively disengaged, meaning that they aren’t just unhappy at work – they are busy acting out their unhappiness. According to Denning, even middle managers don’t trust their firms.

Contrast those statistics with the high-performance teams Steve helps to develop through his work. “These are teams that are vibrantly alive”, he says. “They’re both extremely productive and deeply satisfying to the participants.” High-performance teams of the type Steve talks about demonstrate 200% - 1000% improvements in productivity. In the case of one organization, the increase in productivity was an astounding 5000%.

How would the stories of our workplaces change if we could reverse the percentages between the fully engaged members of our working communities and those who are just putting in their time – or even actively sabotaging the engagement of others?

The Stories Leaders Tell

As the world grows more complex, story helps us to understand the bigger picture and where we fit in. Tom Stewart, chief marketing and knowledge officer at Booz & Company and former editor of Harvard Business Review, said that a leader’s job is to make meaning – leadership is fundamentally sense-making. “We came from here…this is where we are…this is where we’re going.” He talked about five tests that every leader faces - the test of becoming the boss, the test of battle, the test of defeat, the test of re-invention, and the test of the mirror. The way leaders passes those tests, and the stories they tell themselves and others about them, impact and influence those around them in a positive or negative way.

Susan O’Halloran, a diversity and communications expert, taught that people want to be part of a bigger story. As leaders, we need to be intentional about telling a big enough story (of our team, our project, our company) to bring out the best in ourselves and others. And, we can’t take that bigger story for granted – purpose needs to be continually re-invigorated. CEO of Pelerei, Inc., Madelyn Blair, shared a wonderful story that illustrated our hunger for belonging and contribution – for being part of something larger than ourselves. She said, “We think we can buy high performance with incentives, rather than calling it forth with belonging.”

The Power of the Beehive

Seth Kahan’s JumpStart Storytelling session engaged us in a powerful process of rapid-fire sharing that set the stage for connection and collaboration for the rest of the conference. By the time the exercise was over, we’d had a chance to listen to stories of peak teamwork experiences from more than twelve fellow participants, share our own teamwork stories, and debrief some universal principles. In his article, Storytelling to JumpStart Collaboration, Seth introduces the concept of the beehive. “To create an atmosphere of collaboration, it is necessary to shift away from a broadcast mode in which one person speaks while everyone else listens. By activating a ‘beehive’ in which everyone is sharing, the conversation moves off the podium and out onto the floor. This form of storytelling has the effect of filling the room with relevant activity and enthusiasm.”

Finally, in her paper, Redefining our Tribe - Harnessing Diversity through Story, performance artist, storyteller and facilitator, Noa Baum tells us that storytelling in the workplace adds value in a number of ways. This is particularly true with the diverse teams that are crucial to creating high-quality results when dealing with complex problems. According to Baum, story builds trust and leads to collaboration; it expands our ability to handle complexity; and it changes attitudes. Pretty powerful stuff.

What’s Next?

My bottom line take-away from this weekend? With all that’s going on in the world now, we need people’s full engagement and the power of collaboration and collaborative thinking more than ever. In our organizations, our communities, our country and our planet, we’re facing complex and interconnecting challenges. The stakes are high in any number of areas. The world is calling us to greater contribution.

I can feel my own personal and professional stories evolving as a result of my experiences with the power of story and narrative this weekend. What’s your bigger story – and what is it asking of you?

I’ll be sharing more nuggets from the 9th Annual International Story Weekend – and organizational story and narrative in general – over the next weeks and months. To get another perspective on the impact of the weekend, check out these blog posts from fellow participants Kathy Hansen and Ray Jimenez.

http://astoriedcareer.com/2009/04/golden-fleece-2009-in-words-an.html

http://vignettestraining.blogspot.com/2009/04/triumphants-from-conclave.html

Technorati Tags: organizational storytelling, storytelling, business narrative, Golden Fleece, Smithsonian Resident Associates Program, Story at Work, Steve Denning, Tom Stewart, Susan O’Halloran, Madelyn Blair, Seth Kahan, Noa Baum, high-performance teams, diversity, engagement, collaboration, leadership, culture 

Today’s Dear Abby column featured a great post.  No matter what the jewelry stores, chocolate confectioners and florist shops would have us believe, Valentine’s Day is not just for our one and only, but for acknowledging and celebrating all the relationships that bring love and joy to our lives. Here are three ways you can share the love this Valentine’s Day:

1. Share Your Gratitude

On Thursday last week, my husband and I received a vintage Valentine’s card from our financial planner, thanking us for being her clients. I’m sure it didn’t cost a lot, and it let us know that she was thinking about us. That small gesture of connection goes a long way. While it’s too late to send a paper card for this holiday, eCards, eMail or even voice mail are ways you can connect with friends, colleagues, clients, and partners and let them know they’re a valued part of your network. At a marketing lunch the other day, someone mentioned the 3/1 rule. For every one time you promote yourself or your business to clients, you should connect with them three times with value-added information - or just to let them know you’re thinking of them, value their business and are available if there is anything they need.

2. Share Your Stories

Stories are a great way to share the love. In a Facebook post today, my brother shared the story of his cancer journey. 2009 marks five years since his diagnosis of bladder cancer and today he is cancer-free. My friend, Lisa Connors, is inviting visitors to share their stories of “who put the honey in your heart“ today and tomorrow at her Stolen Moments Cafe blog. Lisa will be selecting one entry late tomorrow and giving away a copy of Christina Baldwin’s book, Storycatcher: Making Sense of Our Lives through the Power and Practice of Story, as well as one of her own incredible Storycatcher Journals.

3. Share Your Resources

I’ve just finished reading The Snowball: Warren Buffet and the Business of Life, a fascinating biography of the world’s richest man. While Buffet is famous for his wealth, it’s the story of his life that’s the most interesting. From a boy who sold chewing gum and was inspired by a book he saw at age ten titled One Thousand Ways to Make $1,000, to the billionaire who is giving the vast majority of his fortune away through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, his story is an incredible read.

While we may not have the billions Buffet has to share, even a small amount can go a long way towards making a difference to someone in need. Friend and fellow MASCL alum, Angie Chaplin, is hosting an online fundraiser for her organization, Lutheran Services in Iowa, to benefit Iowa’s Bremwood Campus in Waverly, Iowa.  Angie’s message reads:

Ways that $5 can buy happiness: 

1. Drink a latte, and make a happy morning. 

2. Eat a footlong sub, and make a happy lunch.

3. Donate to kids in need, and make a happy life.

Whether you donate to Angie’s fundraiser or another cause of your choice, sharing our resources - time, money, knowledge and expertise - can make us feel very rich indeed.

If you’re looking for an alternative - or supplement - to the traditional jewelry, chocolate and flowers, consider these three opportunities to share the love this Valentine’s Day. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to call my brother,  send eCards to my best friend and my favorite client, write a short story to post in Lisa Connor’s blog and visit Angie Chaplin’s web site to make a small donation. If love doesn’t make the world go ’round, it certainly makes it a nicer place to live.

Technorati Tags: Valentine’s Day, Lisa Connors, Stolen Moments Cafe, Angie Chaplin,  Lutheran Services of Iowa, Warren Buffet, The Snowball: Warren Buffet and the Business of Life,  Storycatcher: Making Sense of Our Lives through the Power and Practice of Story,  Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 

2008 was a roller coaster of a year.  From the highs and lows of the Olympic games (and the price of gas) to the economic crisis impacting millions around the world and a fascinating presidential election here in the United States, emotions and energy seemed to be all over the map. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to refocus and dial the drama down a bit as we move into 2009.

As is my tradition, instead of a laundry list of New Year’s resolutions, I’ve chosen a one-word intention for the year to help me focus my attention, energy and actions.

This year, my one-word intention is Simplify.

Inspired in part by a phrase from Sue Bender’s book, Plain and Simple:  A Woman’s Journey to the Amish, the desire to simplify not only represents the urge to get rid of the non-essentials in my life, but to re-commit to those people, places and things that represent its very core: vibrant health (physical, mental and spiritual), quality relationships, creative and productive work, a warm and welcoming home, and meaningful contributions to those causes where my talents, energy and resources can make a real difference. As Bender writes,

“My task is to simplify and go deeper, making a commitment to what remains. That’s what I’ve been after. To care and polish what remains until it glows from loving care.”

I’ve started putting this intention into practice already by simplifying my workspace, downsizing from three separate offices around town to one – at home. As I’ve spent time this past week sorting, packing, shredding, recycling and donating the excess, the essential is starting to take shape. I look forward to sharing more of that with you this coming year.

If you’re interested in exploring the possibilities for choosing a one-word intention for your new year, check out this post from Christine Kane’s blog. Or, create a personal mantra for the year instead.  

Warm wishes for a simply wonderful 2009 to you and yours!

Technorati Tags: simplify, New Year’s resolutions, Christine Kane, mantra, intentions

About once a month I climb into my 2005 silver Sable and drive the 75 minutes to Troy, Michigan to meet with my Community of Learners colleagues. The half-day gathering always begins with hugs (at least from those of us who are regulars), something nourishing (or decadent) to eat, and a warm welcome to any and all newcomers.

As we check in and move into our learning topic for the morning, it’s evident that we share a common passion for the organizational development (OD) work we do as internal and external consultants and coaches to various leaders, leadership teams and organizations. Our common work as OD professionals provides the point of connection, but it’s the unique background, experience, philosophy and area(s) of expertise we each bring to that work that results in the stimulating conversations we enjoy. No matter what the topic of the morning is, there is always something new to learn or share.

This loosely-organized group of OD professionals serves as a community of practice to its members.  Researcher and consultant, Etienne Wenger, defines a community of practice as a group of “people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.” 

Communities of practice differ from other forms of self-organizing groups. They are not the same as teams, task forces, interest groups or networks, though with all these forms there are elements in common. Three characteristics define a community of practice:

1. The domain: A community of practice is not just a group of friends or a network of connections between people - it has an identity defined by a shared domain of interest. Membership implies a commitment to the domain, and therefore a shared competence that distinguishes members from other people.
2. The community: In pursuing their interest in their domain, members engage in joint activities and discussions, help each other and share information. They build relationships that enable them to learn from each other. Members of a community of practice do not necessarily work together. The Impressionists, for example, used to meet in cafés and studios to discuss the style of painting they were inventing together. These interactions were essential to making them a community of practice, even though they often painted alone.
3. The practice: A community of practice is not merely a community of interest - people who like certain kinds of movies or music, for instance. Members of a community of practice are practitioners. They develop a shared repertoire of resources, experiences, stories, tools, ways of addressing recurring problems - in short, a shared practice. This takes time and sustained interaction.

According to Wenger, “It is the combination of these three elements that constitutes a community of practice. And it is by developing these three elements in parallel that one cultivates such a community.”

In the knowledge and experience economy in which we live and work today, informal and more formal communities of practice can help us all get better at what we do - and enjoy the camaraderie and friendship of those who share our interests as we problem solve, share information, challenge assumptions, and create new learning together.

The Community of Learners, which I’ve been privileged to be a part of for the past several years, has changed and evolved over time based on the needs and interests of its members.  However, several things have remained constant: the shared passion and commitment to our chosen work (in the many forms it takes), the joy of learning and growing independently and together, and the warmth of friendship and community. 

It’s well worth the drive.

What experiences have you had with communities of practice? How have they been helpful to you in your professional growth?

Technorati Tags: community of practice, organizational development, OD Network, Etienne Wenger