There’s a colourful story involving a hot air balloon that’s circulating across that curious place called The Internet.
I can’t personally vouch for the “facts” asserted amongst the competing versions.
But as in great works of literature, while the details may be fictional, the story highlights deeper underlying truths which you may find enlightening.
For those who are easily shocked by any overly salty language, here follows my ever-so-slightly edited version for the respectable world of business…
THE BALLOON STORY
The woman in a hot air balloon realised she was lost.
She reduced altitude and spotted a man observing her from the fields below.
She descended further and shouted: “‘Excuse me, can you help?”
“I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago but I don’t know where I am.”
The man replied “You’re in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You’re between 50 and 51 degrees north latitude and between 2 and 3 degrees west longitude”.
“You must be a technician!” declared the balloonist.
“I am,” replied the man. “How did you know?”
“Well,” answered the balloonist, “everything you’ve told me is probably technically correct, but I’ve no idea what to make of your information. And the fact is, I’m still lost.
“Frankly, you’ve not been much help at all. If anything, you have delayed my progress.”
The man responded: “You must be in management!”.
“I am,” answered the balloonist. “How did you know?”
“Well,” said the technician, “you don’t know where you are – or where you’re going.”
“You have only risen to your current position due to a large quantity of hot air.
“You made a promise, which you’ve no idea how to keep, and you expect the people beneath you to solve your problems.
“In fact, you’re in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it’s my fault!”
HOW IT COULD BE
If you find the story contains a certain ring of truth, it may be because you’re familiar with the conflicts that can arise between those leading and managing an organisation and those doing vital hands-on work – especially at the technical level.
I’m told that a passing superhero with delusions of grandeur – who was flying above the balloonist’s flight path and overheard the conversation – later made a comment.
He said that if the two people in the story – representing those at the top and the technical team – had been on a Michael Dodd Communications-Boosting Programme and had embraced the principles incorporated within it, the story would have unfolded differently because…
- Leaders and managers would never make a promise they suspected would be difficult to keep
- Commitments would be phrased in an accurate and realistic way that enhance personal and company credibility
- All those involved in important professional conversations would do so in a respectful manner – and would be more likely to achieve their desired outcomes
- Technical people would learn to put themselves in the minds of their audiences so they could communicate the benefits of their expertise in the most useful ways
- Those with highly technical skills would avoid jargon and use easy-to-understand language with everyone outside their field
- Those at the top would project the image of a competent but prepared-to-be-vulnerable leader who own mistakes made and challenges encountered
- Technical people would project the image of experts willing and able to utilise their talents for the benefit of others.
BOOST THE COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS OF YOU AND/OR YOUR TEAM
Communications-boosting sessions – which can be run for you and your colleagues – now include:
GET YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS TO DIFFERENT PERSONALITY TYPES
Helping people know how different categories of human personalities like to receive information and, as a result, become more helpful, enlightening and persuasive
There’s more at: http://www.michaeldoddcommunications.com/get-your-message-across-to-different-personality-types/
YOUR TECH TEAM CAN DO IT! … INSPIRING THE TECHNICALLY-GIFTED TO COMMUNICATE BETTER WITH THE NON-TECHY WORLD
Guiding technical team members to get their message across to those who struggle to understand the complexities of modern technology
BECOME THAT INSPIRATIONAL BUSINESS COMMUNICATOR
Guiding those at or near the top – or those aspiring to get there – on how to convey their business messages in the most powerful, effective and persuasive ways
There’s more information at: http://www.michaeldoddcommunications.com/become-that-inspirational-business-leader-in-12-hours/
GIVE GREAT ANSWERS TO TOUGH QUESTIONS
Showing team members – in sales, public relations, management and leadership teams and beyond – how to improve their replies to tough questions in the workplace….whether questions come from clients, prospects, journalists, officials, suppliers, public inquiries or members of their own team
Details at: http://www.michaeldoddcommunications.com/give-great-answers-to-tough-questions/
GET YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS IN SIXTY SECONDS
Showing your people how to enliven their elevator pitch – and improve their ability to get a point across in the time it takes to cook a piece of toast
There’s more at: http://www.michaeldoddcommunications.com/get-your-message-across-in-60-seconds/
ENHANCING COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS AT YOUR NEXT CONFERENCE
With company gatherings making a comeback – face-to-face and online – conference keynotes on all the above topics are also available.
Plus there’s a new keynote called:
COMMUNICATIONS-BOOSTING LESSONS AND TALES FROM 6 CONTINENTS
Inspiring your conference participants to communicate at new levels – drawing on stories and tips collected on Michael Dodd Communications speaking and training missions around the world
If you provide a reliable hot air balloon – and a pilot with excellent navigation skills – these conference keynotes and communication-boosting training sessions can be run anywhere on the planet.