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Want to listen to the tip? Use the play button below. What systems can you improve to grow a thriving company? To find out what systems you and can improve to grow more easily, quickly and profitability, AND enjoy the ride, try our complimentary Agile Growth Checklist. This self-service questionnaire takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete. You'll receive the checklist with your responses immediately. Within 24 hours, you'll receive a compiled report highlighting areas to improve. Find out how your company is doing in each of the 7 areas needed to produce more rapid, profitable and sustainable growth. This report is complementary and involves no obligation.  I’ve found that a growing number of CEOs and executive teams are becoming familiar with leadership operating systems for midsize companies; systems like The Rockefeller Habits, Scaling Up or the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), that are summarized in books by the same names.
These systems have been built on each others’ shoulders: the Rockefeller Habits compiling best practices from a variety of thought leaders, EOS expanding on the habits and making them more accessible to small businesses, and Scaling Up adding more best practices to strengthen strategy, profitability and cash flow. When CEOs and their teams successfully implement these methods, then growth, and even profitable growth becomes easier, especially if they're working with a leadership team coach. However, as companies grow, the journey becomes more complex and some gaps can become apparent in these systems. I’ve also found that some companies struggle to implement these methods because certain elements aren’t covered in much depth; things like accountability, how to set metrics, targets and rocks, and how to get executive team alignment. While I use the Scaling Up method and the Rockefeller Habits with the companies I work with, as well as some of the tools that are unique to EOS, I also rely on a system that builds on their shoulders to fill the gaps and address some of the more subtle challenges of growth: The 7 Attributes of Agile Growth. The book, again by the same name, was written by Keith Cupp, CEO of Gravitas Impact Premium Coaches, the global community of executive team coaches I am a part of. The 7 Attributes of Agile Growth is a monograph, a relatively new format of book, being made popular by certain thought leaders, like Jim Collins with his Flywheel monograph. Monographs are relatively short, at 40 to 80 pages, designed to cover a narrow topic or provide a high level overview, and be read in one sitting, like on a short-haul flight. The book outlines the attributes of companies that are successful at not only growing, but also overcoming the new challenges that come with growth and adapting to a constantly changing environment in order to keep growing sustainably and profitably over time. These 7 Attributes include Leadership, Talent, Strategy, Execution, Profit, Customer and Systems. The leadership attribute is where the executive leadership team has done the work to become authentic, healthy, and aligned. Talent is about leaders and managers pursuing a culture of trust, results, and accountability with their people. The strategy attribute is where the executive team has defined and evolved a unique and valuable position in the market, and it can be easily recalled and stated by all employees in one phrase. Execution includes having annual, quarterly, and personal targets and priorities that are visible, measured, and activated successfully with a 13-week sprint. The profit attribute is where cash flow has been optimized, and the executive team understands the forces and levers in their control to increase profit and cash. The customer attribute is where the core customer has been defined, a compelling promise has been crafted, and the customer lifecycle has been systematized. Systems is where the organization has defined methods to optimize core processes, change management, decision-making, and technology use. The 7 Attributes of Agile Growth is an introductory monograph to the overall operating system. Separate monographs are being developed for each attribute. So far, four monographs have been released, going into some depth on: accountability, profit and cash flow optimization, A player talent, and competitive strategy. Monograph: 56 pages. How can you grow an agile company? To find out how to implement a leadership operating system to grow more easily, quickly and profitability, AND enjoy the ride, try our complimentary Agile Growth Checklist. This self-service questionnaire takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete. You'll receive the checklist with your responses immediately. Within 24 hours, you'll receive a compiled report highlighting areas to improve. Find out how your company is doing in each of the 7 areas needed to produce more rapid, profitable and sustainable growth. This report is complementary and involves no obligation.  You don't have to be a natural speaker to tell good stories. With this simple 7-step guide to storytelling, you can formulate your next pitch, presentation, lecture or speech as an exciting story - and make your customers the main character.
Customers and investors become convinced with good stories Everyone knows them: gifted storytellers. You come into a group of people, start talking, and in no time a bunch of listeners are hanging on their every word. Well, who do you think of from your circle of friends? What seems innate to some people pushes many entrepreneurs to the edge of their comfort zone even after years: investor pitches, customer presentations, speeches in front of the entire team. And what sounded so clear and convincing in your head simply doesn't come across correctly in front of an audience. The good news: You don't have to be a natural speaker to tell good stories and master the art of storytelling. Today I'll show you a simple 7-step guide with which you can quickly wrap your product presentation, your investor pitch or your next all-hands speech into an exciting story. Your listeners will be hanging on your every word – bet!? The framework I would like to introduce to you is called StoryBrand and was developed by US bestselling author Donald Miller. With this simple 7-step guide, you can package any product or company message into a story that is guaranteed to stay in the person's mind. From message to story in 7 steps What do the films Star Wars, The Hunger Games and Dirty Dancing have in common? Nothing? But! They all work according to the same structure: The main character (1) has a big goal that she really wants to achieve. She comes across a seemingly insoluble problem (2) . When her problem seems greatest, she meets a wise mentor (3) . He gives her a plan (4) and then gives her a push to put this plan into action (5) . In the end, the main character manages to prevent the impending defeat (6) and to be successful (7) . What Donald Miller is doing with his StoryBrand framework is not new. He uses the elements of the classic hero story and transfers them into the business context. Because why shouldn't a narrative structure that captivates millions of people in books and films also work in business communication?! So use this guide to structure your next talk, pitch or presentation as a story and make your customers the main character. Storytelling Step 1: The hero and his goal You, your company or your product are not the heroes of the story: your customers are. So before crafting your story, ask yourself:
This way you think about your customer's needs and avoid writing pages and pages just about yourself. Storytelling Step 2: The Problem Good stories thrive on conflict. What problems does your customer have? What keeps him awake at night? Where does he urgently need support? Such problems exist on three levels:
Storytelling Step 3: The Mentor Now you finally appear. As a wise mentor, you show your client that you understand them and their dilemma and can help them achieve their goal. To do this you need two things:
So ask yourself:
Storytelling Step 4: The Plan You have shown your customer that you understand him and his problem and have demonstrated your authority. Now describe exactly what happens next and give him a clear, simple plan:
No matter how many steps your plan actually has, boil it down to three steps. What you want your customer to remember is: Oh, how wonderfully easy it is to work with you. Storytelling step 5: The call to action Your customer now knows the next steps and knows what happens next. Now it's his turn. Tell your customer clearly what he should do next. What do you want to achieve with your presentation, lecture, conversation? This is the call to action that your story is coming to a head! Storytelling Step 6: Imminent failure What to do if your customer doesn't want to? Movement means expenditure of energy. That's why people only move if they can either get something positive in return (the goal) or avoid something negative (defeat). Gently remind your client what's at stake if they don't work with you. (problems as before) Such failures are common in the B2B sector:
Storytelling Step 7: Success At the end of your story, paint a clear picture of the bright future where your customer has achieved their goal. Describe clearly:
Conclusion No other communication approach focuses on its audience more consistently than StoryBrand's 7-step plan. Make your listeners the main characters in your story. As a mentor, help them achieve their goal and successfully eliminate problems along the way. Give them a plan on how to get there and get them moving in a targeted manner. You do this by carefully reminding them of what is at stake if they do not work with you and by painting a clear picture of the bright future in which your listeners have successfully achieved their goal. Follow this simple 7-step plan and structure your next pitch, lecture or conversation as a hero story. Do you notice how much more attentive your listeners are to you? Take advantage of this attention and bring your message home. https://justgrow.eu/blog/ If you're interested in reading more of Olaf articles please visit the website link above. (Please note that Olaf's site is in German but Google translate does an excellent job of instantly translating it to English.) How can you elevate your people to the next level? To find out what you can improve in your leadership team to grow more easily, quickly and profitability, try our complimentary Agile Growth Checklist*. This self-service questionnaire takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete. You'll receive the checklist with your responses immediately. Within 24 hours, you'll receive a compiled report highlighting areas to improve. This report is complementary and involves no obligation. Complete section 1 and 4 to check your leadership team* and accountability processes*. Or complete all 7 sections to find out how your company is doing in each of the 7 areas needed to produce more rapid, profitable and sustainable growth.  This February, Growth Faculty presents a special virtual livestream event with #1 New York Times best-selling author, Adam Grant LIVE | Work Life Reimagined Growth Faculty has partnered with Wellspring to offer clients $100 discount on the virtual livestream. Be part of an inspiring conversation led by Adam Grant, the trailblazing organisational psychologist, the mastermind behind global bestsellers Originals and Think Again and host of the wildly popular Work Life and Re-Thinking podcasts as he shares his revolutionary approach to building thriving teams and transforming workplace culture. In this 3-hour virtual livestream, Adam will help you:
Sign up your team along and align on what it means to have a thriving work culture and transform your workplace into a hub of creativity, collaboration, and getting stuff done! BOOK YOUR SPOT TODAY! "“When you procrastinate you’re not avoiding effort. You’re avoiding the unpleasant feeling that the activity stirs up.”" – Hidden Potential Wednesday, Febuary 21, 2024 - 4pm in MB and SK NON-MEMBER: $295* | OUR NETWORK: $195*  *Prices quoted in USD What can you do to grow your mid-size company?
To find out what you and your leadership team could do to grow more easily, quickly and profitability, AND enjoy the ride, try our complimentary Agile Growth Checklist. This self-service questionnaire takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete. You'll receive the checklist with your responses immediately. Within 24 hours, you'll receive a compiled report highlighting areas to improve. Find out how your company is doing in each of the 7 areas needed to produce more rapid, profitable and sustainable growth. This report is complementary and involves no obligation. |
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