There's a simple, powerful antidote for Leader's Fallacy. I've been teaching it to leaders of all ranks and functions worldwide. It's Leadership Talk. Many leaders fall into clutches of Leader's Fallacy when they give speeches and presentations. Speeches and presentations simply communicate information. There's another, far more effective means of leadership communication. That's Leadership Talk. Unlike speeches and presentations, Leadership Talk helps leader forge deep, human, emotional connections with audiences. Establishing such connections with grassroots voters is absolutely necessary for Democrats' success.

To give a Leadership Talk, leaders must first answer "yes" to three simple questions: "Do you know what audience needs?" "Can you transfer your deep believe to others so they believe as strongly as you do about challenges you face?" And, "Can you have that audience take ardent action that gets results?" If a leader says "no" to any one of those questions, he/she can't give a Leadership Talk.

If Dean and Democrats want to reverse Republican tide and reach voters' hearts and minds in America's heartland, they must trash their speeches and presentations and start giving Leadership Talks. They must have Leadership Talk be a cornerstone of DNC communication strategy. They must get thousands of Democratic cause leaders out in hinterland constantly giving Leadership Talks. Otherwise, they'll be victims of Leader's Fallacy -- confused about how come they personally are so pumped up, so motivated on one hand and yet are failing so miserably on other.

2005 © The Filson Leadership Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

BEGIN BY FOCUSING ON COMMONALITIES. Stabilize your current environment by ensuring that everyone feels valued and is united in a shared purpose – when this is compelling enough, differences are transcended. Take this further by helping your staff see each other as human beings, rather than simply human “doings.” Create opportunities for people to talk and socialize together beyond their work duties, around issues that apply to a broad range of people. Topics like parenting, providing care for an aging parent, coping with illness and death, and financial management help people to realize that we’re all in this thing called life together.

WORK WITH YOUR GROUP TO DEVELOP YOUR OWN “BUSINESS CASE.” Saying that a culture of inclusion is simply a good thing to do or promising it will produce immediate business success will set initiative up for failure. Change requires energy, and generic statements won’t provide you with enough fuel for your journey. Create discussion forums. After talking about what you believe is possible, invite people to talk about their ideas, values, concerns and fears. Ask thought-provoking questions, such as: what might be possible if we didn’t put limits on people based on our own needs, perspectives, fears, and comfort zones? What do we need so everybody can thrive here?

RE-EVALUATE EXISTING SYSTEMS AND BUILD NEW ONES. Once your staff understands potential benefits to creating a culture of inclusion -- increased staff morale and more innovation powered by diverse perspectives to name but two -- you’re ready to enter fire. Use this as an opportunity to review processes in your organization, like hiring practices, sourcing your goods and materials, marketing, meeting management, mentoring, and compensation. Leave no stone unturned. Just because that system, language, or set of decisions used to serve organization well doesn’t mean it continues to do so. Then, figure out what new efforts are needed to get you where you want to go.

Our work world has capacity to close gulfs that separate people – and demonstrate great value of doing so. Creating an inclusive culture requires first opening our own hearts and then extending invitations to others to do same. What we can count on is that our minds will follow. By showing up as willing students and teachers for each other, our wisdom and productivity increase exponentially. As business leaders, we must continue to consciously enter “fire.” The rest of world is counting on us.

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