Bad news is everywhere. The more you repeat it, the more powerful it seems. A decline in revenue seems like a tsunami of historic proportions if you describe it that way. Instead of making the bad news the main and only point of a speech or presentation, invite your audience to think of the bad economy as a floor from which you construct a stronger company building.
I love John Medina's Brain Rules. Medina, a neuroscientist, has discovered that the human brain lives by 12 rules. He shows how you can make those rules work for you and your company. If ever there is a time when you need to heed those brain rules, now is it.
Problem solving requires unleashing creativity.
Get out of the surroundings that make you dull and glum. Go to a location that looks nothing like an office, conference room or business setting. Make sure it has room for movement. Bring in colors and fresh aromas. Leave power point slides at the office.
Then brainstorm. No agenda, no rules, just open the floodgates for ideas. Post lists on the walls. Write ideas on small pieces of paper, shake them up and let everyone pick one to brainstorm about. Every idea gets some attention. Cost estimates and other limiting factors are not included.
Envision what no one else is seeing these days. Push your panic to the background and make room for vision and positive thinking.
How do you lead your audiences to think positively about ways out of the current economic situation?
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