Around the Corporate Campfire

I came across an interesting book, Around the Corporate Campfire recently.  Evelyn Clark is the author. 

Around the Corporate Campfire is subtitled How Great Leaders Use Stories to Inspire Success.

I am, and always have been, a big believer in the power of stories.  I like this book because Ms. Clark not only share a number of great stories from a number of interesting companies – Nike, 3M, Costco, Mary Kay, Fed Ex – she provides a checklist for leaders on how to identify their core story.  Core stories can be used inside the company to build commitment, and outside the company to build strong relationships with important constituencies. 

Here are the questions Ms. Clark suggests you ask and answer to develop your company’s core story:

• Who are we now?
• What are the core values on which we base everyday decision?
• Who were we five years ago?
• Who do we want to be five years from now?
• Who are our key audiences (employees, shareholders etc.)?
• What do these audiences want and need to know about us?
• How do they like to hear from us?

I would add a few questions.  Once you’ve answered the question “who were we five years ago”, I suggest asking and answering “how did we get to where we are today”.  Once you have answered “who do we want to be five years from now”, I suggest asking and answering “how are we going to get there”.

These are quibbles.  Around the Corporate Campfire is a great book.  It’s entertaining and useful.  It provides common sense advice on how to use stories to build commitment on the part of your employees and relationships with important constituencies outside of your organization – what more could any reader ask?

That’s it for today.  Thanks for reading.  Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more leadership common sense.  Check out my other blog www.CareerSuperStar.com for common sense advice on becoming the life and career star you are meant to be.

I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

Bud

PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open.  Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.