We might be good at telling stories to our children but why do we struggle to tell good business stories? Have we become lazy or too reliant on others or social media to do it for us? But hang on we were never trained to tell stories so we have to go with what we think. And with data being so powerful nowadays the importance of thinking about how to tell a story surely is a dying art? I don't agree - and I hope you don't too!
Read MoreEven if it
was free
I'm Paul Russell and I help
individuals and teams think
differently about solving
problems and finding
better answers.
NEWS
it starts with a dot and finishes with a hidden idea!
It takes a little courage - not on my behalf - but on the people in the room.
When asked to put a dot in the middle of a whiteboard and discuss how it represents the problem they face many leaders and teams find it hard. Why? Because we all face many problems and if we could the whiteboard would be like a leopard.
And with courage comes diversity and with diversity comes inspiration.
I ran recently a series of 60 minutes 'dot' workshops - like speed dating - for a series of people involved in sales and marketing. it was not only also hard work but fun. Within minutes people dropped their preconceptions and shields and started reframing their dot - their original problem - and started to see the more important dot they needed to fix. Just like one of those puzzles that people tell you there is a giraffe or old woman yet all you can see are random shapes and colours.
And you know what? During the workshop the dot moves around a lot. And it never returns to the place it starts. Why? Because the problem people thought they had was not the one they needed to resolve.
You see the issue we all face I suspect is that whilst the dot might represent the problem we believe we have it is the space around the dot than contains the real problem - and the answer!
Told you - it can be fun.
To find out more book a slot and let's chat - https://calendly.com/paulrussell/30min
It takes a little courage - not on my behalf - but on the people in the room.
When asked to put a dot in the middle of a whiteboard and discuss how it represents the problem they face many leaders and teams find it hard. Why? Because we all face many problems and if we could the whiteboard would be like a leopard.
And with courage comes diversity and with diversity comes inspiration.
I ran recently a series of 60 minutes 'dot' workshops - like speed dating - for a series of people involved in sales and marketing. it was not only also hard work but fun. Within minutes people dropped their preconceptions and shields and started reframing their dot - their original problem - and started to see the more important dot they needed to fix. Just like one of those puzzles that people tell you there is a giraffe or old woman yet all you can see are random shapes and colours.
And you know what? During the workshop the dot moves around a lot. And it never returns to the place it starts. Why? Because the problem people thought they had was not the one they needed to resolve.
You see the issue we all face I suspect is that whilst the dot might represent the problem we believe we have it is the space around the dot than contains the real problem - and the answer!
Told you - it can be fun.
To find out more book a slot and let's chat - https://calendly.com/paulrussell/30min
Services
About
We face a Trilogy of Temptation where innovation fuels our confidence to go faster -both at work and play. A natural human development that helps us achieve the impossible but can make us miss blind spots in the conversations we have. A conversation that needs us to remain curious and vulnerable to understand each other better, be more inquisitive about each other and share more human centric stories of what good should look like.
These are the questions I now help business leaders and teams figure out. And in my recently published book I share my thoughts of a Diverger's Toolkit. A more empathetic approach to the conversations we have that uses skills we already possess.
If this is something on your mind please contact me and we can schedule some time to talk.
Schedule a conversation here https://calendly.com/paulrussell/30min
Thinking
How we are seduced by technology through innovation that fuels our confidence we can do better and at a greater pace. Where agile and fragile are often too close for comfort.
Read MoreMy first book! A book about sales but really about you and me. How we can rediscover our inner Diverger to get more from the conversations we have.
Read MoreHow a community came together joined by the desire to share stories and mutual respect. 48 amazing people.
Read MoreHow can we use time better to understand the other person whilst still getting our point of view across - in 60 minutes.
Read MoreUnderstanding the person with a problem is a much under-utilised aspect of selling today. Instead we prefer to assume.
Read MoreQuestioning is like breathing — it’s something that seems so basic, so instinctive, that we take it for granted but often leave blind spots in our wake.
Read MoreTestimonials
Paul ran a most wonderful problem solving workshop for my sales leadership team recently. He called it a Bullet Hole and Mother-in-Law workshop which perfectly summed up what was needed. Too much of what we do is locked into a closed mindset so to be encouraged to think there is no box by Paul was refreshing. Being able to find our own blind spots in our approach has helped my team get a new lease of life!
Nils Van DerZijl: Sales Leader
I have been in technology sales for a long time now and to read Paul's book was the proverbial breath of fresh air. Why? Sales training has become so prescriptive and hard coded that to hear Paul's point of view on how to approach the other person - in my case my customers - has really helped me re-connect with my curious side. The ideas he shares are common sense yet wonderfully described and I absolutely loved the way he introduced so many storytellers to underline his key point,
Helen Liaudin, Sales Leader, Ricoh
I'm making Paul's book a Must Read for all of my consultants around the world to help them frame their thinking as they interact with our customers. I think my team will also find the guidance from this book beneficial in their day to day interactions with their family, friends, and in their community. In this data laden world with an infinite amount of information at our fingertips, we think we have the answer to everything... Paul, your book succinctly highlighted fundamental aspects of every day human thought and action that is so important in the new world we live in these days...
Rand Moritomo: Convergent Computing
Paul is one of life’s ‘energisers’. His curiosity, his unique perspective on problem solving, his ability to find new and different ways of delivering value is a joy. I once said that the ability to connect with people and still be highly technical was as rare as hen’s teeth – but he proved me wrong. If you’re looking for someone to challenge conventional thinking, see things differently - and especially if you are curious to explore design thinking and how it can work for you - he’s your go to person.
Isobel Rimmer: CEO - Masterclass Training
I have known Paul for many years’ now and he gives an insightful and intriguing view on the ‘landscape’ for a technology sales person today. He crossed the commercial world of construction with high technology and was moved to write a book about something close to my heart – buying technology needs a lot more business conversation than features and benefits.
Mark Bew: CEO PCSG
Paul was my mentor as part of the Women Ahead programme which develops women in sport and business. Paul was a great help in getting me to think about situations and problems differently. He was also able to introduce me to useful contacts within his network. His support has been extremely valuable.
Bee Hunter: Rugby League Cup 2021
Even though Paul and I worked for competing companies, I enjoyed collaborating with him while both of us served on an advisory committee for one of our joint technology partners. Paul is able to look at a problem and evaluate it from angles that are not intuitive or obvious to most people. The result is a fresh look at a solution.
Weston Morris: UNISYS
Paul was part of the senior team at Ricoh during my time at Manchester Airport Group. What I really liked about Paul was his ability to bring a different perspective to a discussion, but never just for the sake of it. His deep understanding of innovation in the industry was of tremendous personal value to me - I found our discussions enjoyable and thought provoking .
Matt Stephenson: Stepthinking
