Just this week I have had a massive highlight (Thank you Bill Kies) in meeting and having dinner with one of the most powerful women in the world, Indra Nooyi, the CEO and Chairman of Pepsico. In the little conversation I was able to have with Mrs. Nooyi, I found her to be a very nice and interested person. Of course her level of intelligence is absolutely astronomical and challenging to keep up with.
Mrs. Nooyi was a major player in the event we were both attending with the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and she had a message for the industry on the opening morning. Not only was I excited to have dined with her the night prior, but I was most eager to hear her talk to so many HIGH level executives all in one room. Common sense leads anyone to realize that she brings a message that is not intended for those who sit on the side lines, but for those who run the line.
Renowned Speech Coach Nick Morgan teaches us the only reason to give a speech is to change the world. I could not agree more and I witnessed what will become a world changing speech. Mrs. Nooyi with her global influence, her intelligence, her poise and her focused passion talked to us about the detriment of obesity to our nation. She spent no time hawking Pepsi products or raving on their $35 Billion bankroll (one of the largest companies in the world). She spent time addressing a real problem to a group of real people who can bring real change real fast. In his book, Nick Morgan also teaches us that our speeches cannot change the world if we do not move people to action. Well, within moments of her talk I witnessed a standing commitment from about 50 CEO's and other high level execs who are committed to getting together within the next 45 days. Her challenge was for all of us (Mrs. Nooyi included) to spend an entire day together in a room and not leave that room until there existed a plan to greatly reduce the obesity problem of our nation.
My optimistic mind and my reality statement tell me that this group will make the largest sustainable progress on this issue that has yet to be made.
Here is what I want you to take from this:
Indra Nooyi was asked to stand before a group of peers/influencers and give an important message. She took herself and her organization out of the picture and created unity to surround a problem. She was very prepared to deliver. She was very serious and focused on the importance of the message. She was inspiring and challenging to her audience. She issued a call to action on the spot. As result - competitors will begin the necessary collaboration to address the problem and change the world.
You do not have to be one of the most powerful people in the world or even in your own organization to follow this model of giving speeches to change the world. Whether you are speaking to hundreds of industry executives or 3 front line employees, you should speak with a message that changes the world. Realize this: even the smallest department in your organization is certainly part of the world. If you can enhance the environment of wherever you are, you are changing the world.
Next time you stand before a group of people, will you speak to them so they are left with a desire to improve or seeking a place to hide?
Perhaps you are a gifted communicator who speaks regularly or a dept. manager who only stands before your team on a weekly basis. You need to read this Book from Nick Morgan: Give Your Speech, Change the World. You will thank Nick Morgan and your audience tiny or large will thank YOU.
hey.....just spoke to your wife when Danielle was dropping off Daniel and we were talking about blogs.....this one http://hellomynameisscott.blogspot.com/ is a good one to subscribe to....i subscribe to 38 but don't read them every day....
Posted by: Brendon Wilson | January 15, 2008 at 11:11 PM