Engine For Change

If you don’t know what the term cargo cult means, you must.

The stylized version of the story behind the term goes something like this:

During World War II the Americans arrived on a Pacific island to build a supply station. On this island was a native population.  When the Americans arrived the natives watched the American’s actions with a great deal of interest.  The natives saw the Americans clear some land, build a runway and control tower, signal for something and suddenly, as if coming from out of nowhere, cargo started to arrive, plane-load by plane-load.  The natives were intrigued.  They wanted these same treasures of cargo from the heavens.  The rushed to their area of the island, cleared some land, built a runway and control tower, placed their high priest at the top of the tower with shells over his ears (to imitate headphones), waived their arms to signal to the skies and waited for planes to land with their cargo. No planes came.

The natives didn’t know what made the planes land.  In the absence of knowing why the American’s cargo system worked all the natives could do was mimic as best they could the actions they could see.  That wasn’t enough to get them the cargo.”

In organizations and in life, people try to imitate someone who has had a success, often to equal results as the natives in our story.

For example: (more…)

Because in every field–and especially in technical fields–you will stand out most if you are both competent in your field and credible in your communications.

At the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Engineering, students can add a Technical Communications Certificate to their degree.  While I was at Wisconsin I cheerfully completed the Technical Communication Program and have never regretted adding those extra courses to my packed course calendar.

In 2006 I was featured in a story for the College of Engineering’s Perspective Magazine.  The editors wanted to market the benefits of the Technical Communication Certificate to engineering students and I was happy to help the editors (plus it was great publicity for my employer).

What I said in the article is even more true today: the communication skills I honed in the Technical Communications program have made all the difference in my career.

What have you done lately to improve your writing or speaking skills?

Are you taking advantage of communications classes at work? Will you in 2010?

Do you have a friend that’s a good writer or speaker than can coach you or give you good feedback?

Have you considered joining Toastmasters?

Like the blog tagline above says, “Stop waiting.  Start driving the change you want.”

Here’s a re-post of something I put up at my other blog.  There’s no link back, just a re-post.  Call this moving content from the old to the new.  As I got only minor comments on this last time I posted it, I’ll hide it behind the fold so if you really want to read it you can find it, but if you don’t it won’t hurt your scan of the page.  Enjoy:

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Want to improve yourself, your work, your family?  Stop focusing your limited improvement time on your weaknesses.  Spend the bulk of that time on your strengths.

If you don’t know what your strengths are, you should find out.  And, finding out has never been cheaper.

For less than the price of a movie ticket (and popcorn), and for less than the time to watch the movie, you can learn your top five strengths.

How? (more…)

Seth Godin lays down a challenge:  Can you organize 1,000 people committed to your cause, product, or interest? If you could, imagine what you could do.

If you couldn’t name 100 let alone 1,000 people, don’t fear.  Start small.  Besides, not all change requires 1,000.

If you own a business in a competitive market, 1,000 may not be enough, but you can start with 20 and work your way from there.  Or if you want to improve your local school, a core group of 25 or 50 parents may be all you need to change the reading curriculum or gain funding for the after school arts project.

Building relationships is a strength of mine.  I’m energized by meeting new people, getting them to like me and forming a strong bond with them.   I build the relationships because I enjoy knowing more about the people around me: what their strengths are, how their family is and what they want to accomplish at work and in life.

Today I finished addressing, stuffing, licking and stamping the last of my 275 Christmas cards; 275 cards going out to co-workers, friends and family. My husband likes to joke that we send a Christmas card to anyone I’ve ever walked by in the Pentagon.  While that’s funny, if I actually did that I could probably send 750 more.   If asked I could tell you how I met each person on my Christmas card list, I could go on and on about what they mean to me and why it matters so much for me to send them a family photo and a letter each year, just to let them know I’m thinking of them over the holidays.

What if you aren’t a relationship builder? What if you’re the technology guy or the details woman?  Then find someone to partner with who is a relationship builder.  Maybe this partner know nothing about your cause but they know everyone who needs to know.  Let them offer their strength while you offer yours.

Wondering how to find this relationship building partner?  Start a Facebook account, link to your friends and look to see how many friends they have.  In all likelihood, their Facebook friends represent only a small percentage of the people they know.

If you’re a manager, look for that employee that you probably think talks too much.  If they’re always talking to different people, they may be the employee that knows who’s who in your workplace’s zoo.  They can get you at least a few steps closer to the person you need to partner with.

So whether you build your own 1,000 or borrow someone’s  if you want to make a difference, start gathering your group or tribe or army today.  And, try to have fun doing it.

Welcome to Engine-For-Change.com, my new weblog and site for all things related to helping you drive the personal, community or workplace change you want.  In the coming days, weeks, months, years (eek!) I’ll tell you stories, share thoughts and insights, and hopefully keep you coming back to read more.

Welcome to all my old friends and my co-workers.  Now we’ll finally have a place to store all those stories I tell you over and over again.

Welcome to all new arrivals.  I hope you’ll find some information here worth using and worth sharing.  I can’t promise genius (for that see Seth Godin’s blog), just a willing and open heart committed to sharing what I’ve found works in making the best of my workplace, community, family and me.

Let’s get started.