Once upon a time . . .

a Story of Great Leadership

Our Brains-Hardwired for Stories

FACTS without stories are not relevant

The Leaders Greatest Asset & Greatest Challenge is

Brains: Model Based Thinking Computers: Fact Based Processing

Model
A STORY to Describe Our Environment

Mental Map: A Specific Type of Model

Stored Here In Dorsal Stream

Wheres Safety?

Where am I relative to . . .

The ball My teammates My opponents The net The boundaries

Dorsal Stream Plays a Role in Conceptual Space

Limbic System: Controls Emotions

Fear

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Q-Leadership

Strong Emotion
Causes us to resort to our mental maps

Our Models of the world

EVEN WHEN THEY ARE WRONG!

Stories are Mental Models

Some Key Facts

1. Our brains work on the basis of MODELS not raw fact 2. Our brains are hardwired to create Mental Maps of our world 3. When emotionally stressed, the limbic system takes over causing us to work off our mental maps and often by-passing cognition 4. We are hardwired to process the world in the context of stories

SO WHAT?

Peter Drucker
Business has only one fundamental goal: Create Customers To do this, business has only two key activities: Marketing & Innovation

Innovation
Implementation of all significant innovation requires a project Companies which believe innovation creates a competitive advantage must develop project management capabilities
To really solve a medical problem, and get to the people who need it, you cannot do it all alone. To produce a product of real value, it takes the combined, committed and organized efforts of people with a range of skills and talents..
The Medical Device R&D Handbook by Theodore R. Kucklick

Warren Bennis

Howard Gardner

Change Requires Persuasion

New ideas and innovations always encounter resistance Implementing new ideas requires supporters

Leonard Bernstein

How Much Music Does a Conductor Make?

Project Manager Novice vs Expert

Novice
Reacts to problems as they arise Solves problems Motivates by raw Facts Makes sure tasks finish on time Accepts project scope as defined by others Seeks to avoid risk Task oriented Personally solves problems Considers project reviews and reporting to be annoying requirements Hurries to make a schedule and action Focuses on the schedule to manage the project Reacts to team dynamics Resists change Me focus

Expert
Anticipates problems Prevents problems Motivates with Compelling Stories Makes sure tasks start on time Works with stakeholders to define scope Manages risk Project delivery oriented Recruits resources to solve problems Utilizes reviews and reporting to gain information and recruit support Develops a schedule through a disciplined process focuses on planning Utilizes the plan to manage the project: QTCS-R Anticipates team dynamics Manages change We focus

Persuasion Requires a New Story

Not just a story a COMPELLING Story We oriented Positive and respectful Relatively simple Recognizes the past and common heritage Defines a reason to change Frames a new belief based on common understanding Creates a picture of the future

Components of Compelling Story

Situation: Where are we now and how did we get here? Gap: What is needed that we do not have? Solution: How will we fill the gap? Definition of success: What does the world look like when we are done?

Great Leader Great Story Teller

Donald Phillips in Lincoln on Leadership

Lincolns Story Telling (and story creation) foundation to his success as a leader

Created New Stories which became part of the fabric of American Life

Gettysburg Address Where we are & how we got here:

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war; testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

Gettysburg Address The problem

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate we can not consecrate we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.

Gettysburg Address- The solution

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain

Gettysburg Address The Future State

That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Lincoln Created a New Mental Map

Were in this together Its a great cause BUT Its not done yet Well renew the freedom given us by our fore-fathers Government of the people, by the people, for the people

Speculative Questions Innovation

We have never _______ but What if . . .
We could fly? Wright Brothers

Why not . . .
Mix milk with chocolate? Milton Hershey

Wouldnt it be great if . . .
We could deliver packages around the world overnight? Fred Smith, FedEx founder

Its 1870. New York (Manhattan Island) is a major metropolis. Getting across the East River to Brooklyn and Long Island requires a ferry. Wouldnt it be great if . . . We could build a bridge the Island?

Once Upon A Time . . .

Start with where we are and how we got here . . .

Childs Play and a Toy Story

Full length animations have captured the hearts of millions. Disney has always been the standard in this area. The digital revolution has only begun to impact animation, but it can open up vast level of additional precision and complexity which can enrich to the story while reducing production costs.

Disney & Pixar Collaboration to produce Toy Story

Once upon a time There was a need for change . . .

Describe what is Missing and what WE are going to do about it.

Manhattan Project 2 Leaders Team: 130,000 14 Locations $2 billion ($22 billion today) 3 years Utmost Secrecy Story Scientists can (must) play a vital effort to win the war. This weapon will win the war.
J. Robert Oppenheimer and General Leslie Groves at Trinity test sight in July 1945 3 years following taking over Manhattan Project

The Golden Gate Bridge Story

Situation We have grown together such that San Francisco is now a major and successful city to be proud of. Gap This success has created a problem our waterways are choked with ferries as people try to get into our city each day. This causes safety issues and takes considerable time. Solution Build the worlds largest suspension bridge to connect our city to the surrounding area. Make it something to be proud of like our great city. Future We will proudly speak of our iconic structure which improves efficiency and safety

Simple = Powerful

General Dwight D. Eisenhower, June 5, 1944

Full victory-nothing else.

What is the New World Like?

t

Where Are We?

1. Our brains work best with stories 2. A Project Manager Gains Project Support through a compelling story 3. Compelling Stories have 4 Components
Situation: Where are we now and how did we get here? Gap: What is needed that we do not have? Solution: How will we fill the gap? Definition of success: What does the world look like when we are done?

Once upon a time . . .

We Created Our Future