Videos
Feedforward Video
Marshall Goldsmith is one of my favorite authors and leadership gurus. I’ve shared his “feedforward” concept with leaders for years and recently wrote about the idea in this article.
Feedfoward means giving people suggestions in advance about how to behave rather than waiting for them to fail and beating them up afterwards. Anyone can give feedforward when they have an idea that may help someone else succeed. For example, years ago my husband was about to present to his company’s executive leadership team for the first time. His boss gave him great feed-forward about how to dress, when to speak, how much detail to go into, etc.
While I usually talk about giving feedforward, Goldsmith also makes the great point that we can and should ask for feedforward. If you have a behavior you want to change, try asking others for ideas and suggestions about how to succeed. Most people who try this technique find that it is fun and they get great ideas.
Use Video to Increase Learner Engagement
Imagine ethics and compliance training so compelling that your employees hack in to your computer system to see episodes before they are released!
This isn’t a fantasy. One company actually made it happen by making it’s mandatory training funny, relevant, and educational through the use of video.
Steve Mack, executive producer for Impact Video Production, just released this video blog showing how several companies have made training more engaging by creating video parodies of the TV series, “The Office”.
Video: Core Communication Truths
A few days ago I published a post about communicating with people, not to them. Just today I came across a terrific video slideshow from Les Landes that reinforces this point. Landes is an expert in marketing communications, employee engagement and alignment. Check out his video: Closing the Distance below.
Actively Engage Employees with Video Contests
Corporate communicators have been using video to share messages for decades. But in just the past year or two, more and more companies are recognizing that employees are more actively engaged when they create the video themselves. Here is a great example of this approach.
Hospital Video Contest: Washing Hands
Rather than creating a corporate Wash Your Hands campaign, one hospital asked employees to create and submit their own videos. Here’s a compilation of results:
Consider inviting your people to create your next important message themselves!
Video: Make Behavior Change Fun
Another great way to influence people’s behavior – make it fun!
In addition to the fun factor, I think this video illustrates another powerful point. People are curious. In Made to Stick, Chip and Dan Heath demonstrate how powerful it can be to start a talk or a class by using a question or a mystery:
For our idea to endure, we must generate interest and curiosity. How do you keep students engaged during the forty eighth history class of the year? We can engage people’s curiosity over a long period of time by systematically “opening gaps” in their knowledge — and then filling those gaps.
Today’s takeaway: Are you leveraging fun and curiosity to interest people in your change effort?
Video: Changing Behaviors
As Myron Radio and I discuss in our book, Change at the Core, most organizational change ultimately comes down to changes in people’s behavior. Yet this aspect often proves to be the most mystifying part of any change. We know that command and control results in short-term compliance, if it works at all. Memos certainly don’t work. Neither does begging, pleading, or other forms of incentives.
Fortunately, there is great research available from Joseph Grenny and his Influencer co-authors. They found that successful influencers utilize at least four sources of influence when getting people to change their behavior. Two powerful sources are peer pressure (aka social motivation) and practice. Others include personal motivation, social ability (mutual accountability) and structural motivation (rewards).
For a fun introduction to the concepts from Influencer, check out the video below.
Video: Rethinking Motivation
Dan Pink is the author of a trio of provocative, bestselling books on the changing world of work, including A Whole New Mind, The Adventures of Johnny Bunko, and Free Agent Nation.
In his talk at TED this year, Pink discussed approaches to motivation and argues that the “carrot” approach can actually destroy creativity. Watch the clip below to see what he has to say.
Thought Provoking Video on Employee Engagement
Employee engagement is more than a yearly survey. It’s about connecting your people with your strategy. Check out this terrific video from Coffman Organization.
Speaking Advice from Bruce Springsteen?
A few nights ago, Bruce Springsteen was a guest on The Daily Show. In addition to giving a moving performance of his new song, Working on a Dream, Springsteen talked about going on tour and connecting with audiences. I was struck by how relevant his advice is to anyone who speaks or performs. Here is a recap:
- Celebrate the history you have with the audience.
- Share your new work (thoughts, ideas).
- Connect to what is happening in the world now.
He went on to emphasize that there are many different audiences that make up the crowd at any performance. Some believe what you believe. Some want to be entertained. Some will disagree with you. Springsteen says to recognize that fact, but stay true to who you are.
Great advice for singers and speakers!
Haven’t heard the song? Check out the YouTube video:
How To Create a Video Blog
Looking for ways to update your communication to employees and stakeholders? Have you considered a video blog? It’s easier than you think.
Steve Mack, media consultant and executive producer for Impact Video Production, shows you how in this short video.
