Craig Smith

Derek Sivers on TED

Watched a couple of short, unrelated videos on TED today from entrepreneur Derek Sivers.

When starting a movement, it takes a leader but the first follower is actually an underestimated form of leadership in itself. … The first follower is what transforms a lone nut into a leader! There job is to make it OK for others to join and to make it more safe.

Whatever brilliant ideas you may have or hear, the opposite may also be true. He gives the example of naming streets in Western culture, but blocks in Japan and how eastern doctors get paid for keeping you healthy, not treating you when you are sick.

Keep your goals to yourself because telling someone your goal makes it less likely to happen.

The ‘X’ Model of Engagement

I came across the ‘X’ Model of Engagement video today from BlessingWhite, which is well worth the 7 minute investment.

It demonstrates a good model for engagement, defining the roles as hamsters, crash and burners, the engaged, the disengaged, and the almost engaged. Full engagement is the intersection of the maximum contribution for the organisation and maximum satisfaction for the individual. The video makes a good point that because the “almost engaged” are good performers and a large proportion of the organisation, it is tempting to focus your coaching effort on the other areas that are far more disengaged.

It also has a good model to follow so that engagement happens all the time (not just a survey or once a year thing). Employees need to ACT (Assess, Coommunicate and Take Action), Managers need to CARE (Coach, Align, Recognise and Engage) and Executives need to CASE (Communicate, Authentic, Significance and Excitement).