Why I Work Best with Childlike Adults

February 13, 2013

The best places I’ve worked have been those where people approached work in a playful, childlike manner.

Unfortunately, I’ve also worked with stuffy, adult-like colleagues who made work a drudgery. They took themselves much too seriously.They mistakenly believed that work, by its very definition, must be onerous. Inevitably, they failed to produce memorable results.

I much prefer being with the creative, fun and productive people who spend their time “working” on meaningful projects. They are the ones who are destined to leave an indelible mark on this world.

They make a difference, in part, because they think and act like children. (Note: being childlike and childish are two very separate characteristics.)

The ideal workplace is populated with people who freely exhibit the following childlike virtues:

  1. Curious. Children are inquisitive and ask lots of questions. Answers to those questions spawn follow-up questions. The creative journey never ends.
  2. Creative. They inherently combine existing elements to form new patters. They punch through boredom by making good use of existing resources.
  3. Candid. A child will often speak the truth that others see but, in their adult-like manner, refuse to acknowledge. Remember, in Hans Christian Andersen’s classic story, it was a child who first pointed out the obvious: the emperor had no clothes.
  4. Simplistic. In my opinion, nothing kills natural growth and creative development more that complexity and bureaucracy. Simple ideas are usually the most durable.
  5. Playful. To a child, life is a game, an unfolding adventure of discovery, learning and exploration. The best games require strategy, mental alertness and commitment. Win or lose, a child always knows there are more games to play. The fun continues.
  6. Flexible. Children haven’t lived long enough to be deeply vested in the status quo. Seldom do they say, “But we’ve always done it this way.”
  7. Practical. A child always thinks about how something will directly affect him or her personally. They ask questions like, “What is this? What can I do with it? How does it affect me right now?”

I believe we should only hire and promote childlike people.

In fact, childlike people should never be confined just to the workplace. I always want to be surrounded by childlike family and friends whether I’m attending a social event, traveling on vacation or even attending church. Don’t forget that Jesus himself said (paraphrased), “Unless you become like a child, you will never reap life’s great rewards.

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1 Comment | Life in General, Life Observations, Marketing & Strategy | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock

So, What’s Your Point?

February 10, 2013

Let me get right to the point: If you want to be a more effective communicator, have a point!

Before you start to say something, know what you are going to say. And why. To understand why you are sharing information, first ask what you want the recipient to do once the message has been received.

Don’t you wish everyone sending you an email had a clear, concise point? Like me, you’ve probably receive countless emails containing lots of data but no relevant information. Often I will receive an email with attached spreadsheets. Believe me, in the past I’ve diligently scoured that data assuming “there must be a pony in here somewhere.” Unfortunately, I’ve never found one. So now, when I receive such an email, I will scan the first paragraph to decipher what I need to know. If the point is not clearly articulated there, I will move on to something more relevant.

After all, why waste valuable time trying to figure out the point of pointless communications?

Last week I happened to notice that I’ve been placed on the agenda for an upcoming meeting. As I write this, I’m not sure what the purpose of my brief presentation will be. Believe me, though, if I remain on the agenda I’ll make sure that my presentation has a point. To clarify the purpose of my communications, I will ask myself these three questions:

  1. Who am I talking with?
  2. Why should they care about what I have to say?
  3. What is my point (in one sentence)?

Perhaps my favorite movie quote comes from Steve Martin in Planes, Trains and Automobiles. After listening to blabbermouth John Candy talk incessantly, Steve finally explodes and says, “And by the way, when you’re telling these little stories, here’s a good idea: Have a point! It makes it so much more interesting for the listener.”

Before you communicate, do you have a point?

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Posted by Duane Hallock

The World Has Too Many Victims

January 21, 2013

“I choose not to be a victim!” Those powerful words were shared with me last week by a friend who has had lots of bad things happen to her.

She is currently between jobs, which is why she came to my office to talk over coffee. Because I’ve known her for several years, I also know she is divorced, she’s been bullied at work and, since childhood, she has been preyed upon (and I use that term in its ugliest connotation).

Yet her bold statement—I choose not to be a victim!—got me to thinking.

Does someone really choose to be a victim? Is that a decision one actually makes? Or is a victim created as the result of something bad that happens? Or from the selfish actions of others?

In reality, bad things happen to each of us, so we all might feel victimized in some way. Yet most of us choose to pick ourselves up, or at least to allow others to help us get back on our feet.

Victims, by my definition, are those who choose not to recover. They wallow in self-pity. They feel a sense of entitlement, somehow believing that the world owes them something. Instead of finding solutions, they search for excuses. They blame others for their circumstances. They refuse to take ownership of their reality, and they harbor bitter feelings of anger, despair and revenge.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by Duane Hallock

My Two Trips to Hana

December 30, 2012

Twice I have driven to Hana, an undeveloped tropical paradise on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

Truthfully, my first trip was very disappointing. The second trip, however, turned out to be a memorable and worthwhile adventure.

So what was different?

First, there were many similarities. On both trips, I was with my wife driving a rental car along the same, winding road. The scenery and the small town remained unchanged during the two years between visits. Even the weather was identical on both occasions.

So why was the second trip special?

Well, the first time we were driving hard to reach a destination. The narrow highway prohibited us from traveling as fast as I would have preferred. Even the wide spots in the road annoyed me because other drivers would pull over and walk around to enjoy the scenery. Those sightseers had no clue that they were in our way, delaying us from reaching our destination.

For those unfamiliar with the Highway to Hana, it extends more than 50 miles across the north side of Maui. The narrow, winding route contains 620 curves and passes over 59 bridges, 46 of which are only one lane wide.
Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by Duane Hallock

The Roads I’ve Hitchhiked

December 18, 2012

This summer while on vacation, my wife and I were driving towards the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. Suddenly, it dawned on me that I’d once hitchhiked along those same roads.

That realization opened a flood of long-forgotten hitchhiking memories.

I recalled the time I thumbed a series of rides to Ohio to surprise my girlfriend. Neither she nor her family were impressed that I’d traveled so far—all alone—using such an unpredictable form of transportation. (Sometimes I’m still amazed that she eventually agreed to marry me!)

Then there was the time my buddy Steve and I hitchhiked overnight to Florida. The most memorable part of that trip came after we unfolded our sleeping bags and tried to sleep in the tall grass along the shoulder of southbound Interstate 75. Believe me, it’s impossible to rest while 18-wheelers thunder by at 80 miles an hour only a few feet from your head.

And how could I forget the adventure when my brother Gary and I nearly froze in the open bed of a pickup truck? Although it was summer in Colorado, we crossed the Continental Divide after midnight in the high altitude of the Rocky Mountain National Park. Brrrr!

Back in the day, I logged around 3,000 miles by begging for rides from strangers who might take pity on a poor, long-haired college kid standing alongside the road. Granted, it was a different time and thumbing for a ride was more popular then. Besides, I was young and didn’t think much about danger, perhaps because my mom did all the worrying for me.

On various trips I met a diverse assortment of people. There was the drummer for a popular rock band. I once was picked up by an aspiring ball player who hoped to someday play for the Cincinnati Reds. And then there was the old black man who was so tired he just wanted to sleep while I drove his car across Kentucky.

With the exception of some rednecks in Southern Georgia, the people I met were very nice. For example, I remain grateful for the Orlando policeman who—after reminding me that hitchhiking was illegal—reluctantly gave me a ride to my destination.

The end of the year provides an ideal opportunity to reflect on life and the roads we’ve traveled, both literally and figuratively.

In many ways, life is like hitchhiking. We often head towards unseen destinations, traveling along roads we’ve never been on, and will likely never traverse again. Along the way, we briefly meet some incredibly interesting people, and then abruptly we go our separate ways, never to cross paths again. Yet we remain grateful for those strangers who helped us reach our destination.

During the coming year, I resolve to continue exploring new horizons, though I’ve long-since forsaken hitchhiking. I also commit to creating memories along the virtual highways I’ll travel. I will savor the relationships that develop, and I will always give thanks for the beautiful, kind-hearted people I meet along the highways of life’s meandering journey.

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Posted by Duane Hallock

Miracle on 49th Street

November 28, 2012

It happened earlier this month in Midtown Manhattan.

A motley group of us—mostly strangers—came together on West 49th Street in New York City.

We went there to become part of the disaster public affairs team of the American Red Cross. Our assignment was to supplement the excellent work being done by the local professionals who were already helping those affected by Superstorm Sandy.

We traveled from such faraway places as Anchorage, Chicago, Boston, California, Colorado, the Carolinas, Kansas City, Dallas, Seattle, Pensacola, Las Vegas and even Canada.

The miracle, if you will, was that such a diverse group could come together so quickly to form a cohesive, productive team. In the midst of the disaster relief efforts, our team overcame sizable obstacles and produced impressive results.

As I reflect upon what happened, I realize that our “miracle on 49th Street” can be attributed to the following factors:

  1. Mission. First, we were united because we shared a sense of purpose. We knew why we were there, and we instinctively understood how public affairs must always be an essential part of any disaster relief operation.
  2. Vision. We envisioned what success would look like before we actually set out doing our work. We had a vision—a clear picture—of what we could do together:  share information, tell stories, engage people in conversations and serve as the operation’s eyes and ears on the ground
  3. Organization. Early on, we created an organizational chart and then revised it several times. We organized ourselves according to levels of experience, professional skills and areas of interest. This structure helped to make sure that “all the ducks were flying in the same direction and in the proper formation.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by Duane Hallock

What Our Public Affairs Team Did in New York

November 23, 2012

I spent the first half of November in New York City helping people affected by Superstorm Sandy. I was proud to be part of the impressive disaster public affairs team of the American Red Cross.

Since I’ve returned home, many people have asked what I actually did. They are curious about the role of public affairs and how it fit into the overall disaster relief efforts.

To answer those questions most completely, I like to talk about what our entire team did. Working together, we created a synergy greater than any of us individually.

Here is what we did, and why public affairs was an essential part of the disaster relief efforts in New York and beyond:

Role of Disaster Public Affairs

  1. We shared information. We told people where Red Cross services were available and how they could receive help. We knew that some were individuals asking, “Where is the Red Cross?” so our role was to share inform and help them access our services.
  2. We told stories. We were surrounded by thousands of stories illustrating how the Red Cross fed the hungry, sheltered the newly-homeless and gave hope to those in such dire circumstances. People genuinely care about other people, and the community likes to hear stories about how their friends, family and neighbors are being helping. Volunteers and donors also need to be shown how their contributions of time and money yield an impressive “return on investment.”
  3. We engaged people in conversations. During disasters, people have lots of questions. They also like to share what’s going on in their neighborhoods. They feel a need to connect with relief organizations. In the field, our public affairs team members conversed with the various people we met. Also, through social media, we engaged them in conversations and talked with them one at a time, person-to-person.
  4. We were the eyes and ears on the ground. Those on the operations side of the relief effort sometimes relied upon our public affairs team to relay real-time information about what was going on in the affected areas. Occasionally, as with any massive relief effort, we experienced temporary breakdowns in service, and our public affairs team would quickly relay that information to the right people so we could better respond to meet the needs of those looking to us for assistance. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by Duane Hallock

You Know It’s Time to Go Home When…

November 18, 2012

I am finally home after my deployment to New York City as part of the incredible disaster relief effort of the American Red Cross.

Memories of the long hours, the minor frustrations and the stressful conditions will quickly fade. My enduring memories will focus on the extraordinary team I worked with, the genuine kindness of the people of New York City and the thousands and thousands of people we helped who were affected by Superstorm Sandy.

One memory I’ll cherish is the brief chuckle I received when a fellow worker stopped by my cubicle at our headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. Without comment, he handed me a photocopied sheet titled “You know it’s time to go home when…” The list was not attributed to anyone, yet I share it with appreciation for those who brought a little humor into a serious workplace.

You know it’s time to go home when…

  1. You start referring to your hotel room as home.
  2. You start rearranging the furniture “at home.”
  3. You start receiving mail addressed to “resident” in your hotel room.
  4. You can’t remember the last time you wore something that didn’t come out of a suitcase.
  5. You no longer get lost.
  6. You know trouble spots on the traffic report on the radio.
  7. You stare uncomprehendingly at the people who have just been deployed when they ask, “How long have you been out?”
  8. Crisis counselors cry on your shoulder.
  9. You have trouble finding your home state on a map.
  10. When you hear of a disaster in another part of the country and you say, “Hey, I’d like to go there,” and suddenly you realize you’re from there.
  11. You start telling tourists where “the sights” are.
  12. You start telling the locals where “the sights” are.
  13. You start losing your native accent and begin speaking like the locals.

I will miss New York, and I hope to return. Yet, the time had come to return home.

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Posted by Duane Hallock

The Impact We Have as Red Cross Communicators

October 4, 2012

Each year I challenge myself to write measurable goals for my work as a Red Cross communicator.

I like being held accountable to produce measurable results. Yet I struggle to build metrics that measure the things that really matter. Sometimes we default to measuring process rather than impact because process is often easier to quantify. Albert Einstein once said, “Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.”

The success of the Red Cross depends upon effective communications. I am privileged be part of a national team of Red Cross communicators who believe that our work really matters. My colleagues and I believe that because of our work…

  1. More money is raised.
  2. More health and safety programs are sold.
  3. More blood is donated.
  4. More volunteers draw deep satisfaction from their engagement with the organization, and they are eager to recommend volunteering at the Red Cross to their friends.
  5. More partner organizations (both government and non-government) find value and synergy in their relationship with the Red Cross.
  6. Red Cross services are more available and readily accessible to those needing help.

Results can be measured in a variety of ways. I want my work as a communicator to make a measurable difference in the success of the organization. More importantly, I want to have a meaningful impact in the lives of the people we serve.

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Leave a Comment » | Life in General, Marketing & Strategy, Marketing in a Nonprofit, Marketing Success | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock

My Mission as a Red Cross Communicator

October 3, 2012

Those who know me best know I’m wired to begin any project by asking “Why?”

Before I launch a major initiative, I must first understand the objective. Why am I doing this? What is my mission?

Before I spend time and energy working on specific tasks, I must first understand why the project itself is important.  What are we trying to accomplish? What is our purpose?

Before I can effectively lead a communications team, I must first understand why my department exists. What is our mission? What purpose do we communicators serve? What is our raison d’être?

What is our mission?

Seriously, if we don’t have an answer, how we can’t expect others to value our work?

This summer I wrote a mission statement to serve as the cornerstone of our communications plan for the coming year. Here is the mission of the communications department of the Red Cross, Kansas City Region:

Mission of the Communications Department

We share information, tell stories and engage in conversations that inspire people to join the Red Cross in fulfilling its mission.

Mission of the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

The mission of the Red Cross inspires me to be part of something bigger than myself.

The mission of my communications team focuses me on the important work we do as a Red Cross communicators. Our mission statement helps us to make good choices about how we should spend our time. It guides us as we invest the precious resources entrusted to the communications department.

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Leave a Comment » | Life in General, Marketing & Strategy, Marketing in a Nonprofit | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock

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