Your 6 Word Management Story Contest
March 27, 2008 by David Zinger
Filed under Business
My friend Jodee Bock from Fargo (very close to Winnipeg and you probably don’t know where either of these places are) wrote a challenging post last week: What’s Your Story (In 6 words…)? From Jodee’s post:
The six-word concept isn’t a new one. Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway was asked to write a novel in only six words and his simple yet profound contribution was “For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.”
She challenged both Phil and I to write our story. My story was: David opened slowly and reached out.
Okay, it might not win a literary prize but it was a succinct way to capture my life. Come to think of it, I might have to tell my wife to have someone etch this on my urn after I die.
Of course, when I think about it, I can see some future grandchild reaching out to grab the urn, accidently dumping it on the rug, and making an ash out of me.
But I digress, what is your management story?
The Contest
You have 6 words to capture your management approach, style, and way of working.
Write your 6 work management epiphany in the comments. I will send a real Canadian “Toonie” with a polar bear in the middle of our fine Canadian coin to the person who writes the coolest management 6 word or less story.
I will force my 3 teenagers to judge the winner(s) because they have a better handle on cool management than their 53 year old father.
You have 6 days, until April 1st to get your comment posted. That means you have to write just one word a day to complete this assignment.
Come on…you can do it!
Hey did you notice, 6 words?
I just created and completed my management story!
David Zinger
View my page on The Employee Engagement Network
Hi David,
Always interested to read your blogs. This one was particularly interesting, especially as I posted the same on our own website on 7th February! See below
A Story In Six Words
7th Feb 2008 @ 12.54pm (edit)
Ernest Hemingway once claimed that his best story was written in six words: ‘For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn.’ Perhaps this takes clarity and simplicity to the extreme, but what a way to spark the imagination! The Guardian challenged some contemporary authors to put forward their own six-word stories, which are worth a read.
Our own work focuses on making an organisation’s strategic story clear, simple and memorable. Imagine writing a strategic story in six words – anyone up for having a go?!!! I’d love to see what’s out there!
Six words eh ?
“Learned to GTD, teaching others how.”
How is that ?
Scott
After years encouraging teamwork and communication, I realized it got in the way and wrote a book about it – so ..
“Learned mangement wisdom, tried something else.”
“facilitate the network, let the net work.”
Oops, 7, oh well that is the story. I create value add.
Great post David!
My six word management style:
“Always learning and teaching, join me.”
I requested, they failed, I fired.
Challenge your people; pay them well.
Sorry, but what is kimerikas?
Jane.
Chaos ensuing, unaccountability ruling, we’re compelling.
Alison, Scott, Kevan, jennifer, Al D, chris, Adam:
Thanks for your comments or your entries. This will keep my 3 teenagers busy on April Fool’s Day to judge the entries and pick the cool management story.
The Polar Bear is already starting to pace on the toonie fretful that the place the bear ends up is cool enough.
I look forward to any other entries and if you pace yourself, you only have to write one a day.
Multiple entries are okay too as long as they are just 6 words.
My new management 6 word mantra:
I am interested in your work.
David
Steve,
The B5 media spam filter held up your comment. I guess it counted 7 words and said, watch out for this guy. I like the 7 words as sometimes management is about breaking the rules.
David
Worked hard, failed alot, succeeded some.
Collin:
Another story with failure in it. It is refreshing how slacker managers can embrace their failures and put it into the 6 line management epiphany.
David
“I trust you, make it happen”
jb,
I love it…trust and results in one sentence. So often they seem to exist not only in differenet sentences but totally different books.
David
David B send this one by email:
To paraphrase Dick the Butcher in Henry VI, “First let’s kill all the lawyers.” A less sanguine story, and one that works for me, is, “First, take care of your people.”
1 kill/1 care 2 sentences, for everything else there are more words.
WOW!! I love your post!! I will be writing about this before the weekend is out. Very good idea!
Here’s mine:
“Living to shape minds and destinies!”
Darlene:
Good to put living up front because without living nothing else will occur.
David
“They tried harder but kept failing.”
This isn’t my management style nor is it a style that anyone aspires to. Unfortunately, it is a style that seems to occur all too often in the real world.
‘He tried, sometimes failed,always learnt.’
Looking back on twenty years of management success & failure, the lessons learnt are invaluable . Learn from the past in order to shape your future.
Keep up the good work David
Rob
Stuart:
This reminds of the line used by Lily Tomlin: don’t try harder try softer.
Rev Rob:
I feel you could forgive me if I fail. Once again we see how important failure is in the 6 words.
David
Seek understanding, give support, find results
Rick,
Your six words make a tough acronym SUGSFR yet I really like the focus on understanding support and results. Well said.
David
This is all I’ve got…
Empower the team, hold them accountable.
Mike:
If that’s all you’ve got, it is pretty good!
David
the 6L’s have it…
Look, listen, learn. Lift, laugh, lead.
cheers!
Doug,
I think you have created a 6 sentence story that demonstrates management just for the “L” of it.
David
David:
You are very inspiring! Thanks for taking this idea even further. Great memoirs here … and here’s another from me:
“Eventually she understood what really mattered.”
Of course, there is a part II ..l
Jodee:
Being from Fargo it is no surprise that you gave a 6 word (Bigger Small Talk) on your management story…understanding and mattering, strong stuff.
David
“Most importantly, learn to ask questions.”
My 6-word story:
“Herding Cats, Taming Lions. Why Not?”
To me, management is about creating order from chaos, and reveling in the opportunity.
Brett & Rob:
6 words and we never get the same story twice. Brett, I like the focus on asking rather than telling and make it most important.
Rob, From tame to wild, why not? A creative story that has a certain teenage appeal to it, given that they are the judges you might do well.
David
“Your worth is in their eyes.”
[My short version of "... the true measure of success is found in the eyes of your direct reports ..." from Leadership Lessons from West Point. A fine book on real leadership in management.]
Demand high standards; measure with grace
Eater and EAS. Both begin with ea and each of your stories are thoughtful and insightful. Thank you.
When I get my 3 teenagers to judge I will remind them that each person’s story worth is in their eyes and to demand high standards while measuring with grace!
David
Hi David,
It’s a great exercise for the mind! Here is my sentence:
I ask questions, you find solutions.
Mike,
At least you don’t put your staff in jepordy having to come up with the question after you provide the solution.
David
Next time, try a leadership haiku contest…
*To learn more sooner, fail faster.
*Outward transformation begins with internal change.
*My success begins with your success.
*Share vision. Don’t be an obstacle.
*Plan. Do. Study. Act. Celebrate. Repeat.
*Lead by staying out of the way.
Haiku to you Chris.
I had thought about that and now with your confirmation we will probably do it sometime in April. The troube with Haiku is that it takes more than 6 words and they have to figure out the syllable pattern.
I like your 6×6 design here.
David
A more open format would be fortune cookies. A little longer than 6 words and without the fixed format of haiku.
The 6 lines was a happy accident. That was where I ran out of ideas last night.
Have you seen the new book “Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure”? SMITH magazine started inviting readers and authors to submit 6-word bios and the book is the result.
Heres a Few……
One of many; catalysts don’t boast
Watch, Do, Teach; Learn, Live, Give.
Orders are easy, Examples are harder
Measure twice, cut once.
Open hands hold more than fists
Who, What, Why, where, When, How.
Thanks for the challenge, another please.
Chris,
You are generating ideas for a few months of management. Good happy accident. I have not seen the book but I will seek it out.
Ben
Some gems here, I love the finish: 6 words: thanks for the challenge, another please.
David
My work is their work, succeeding.
Doing, choosing, helping, supporting. I grew.
Jim:
I appreciate your double six pack.
I never realized how many comments 6 words could produce…or perhaps it is that lovely Canadian Toonie fresh from Winnipeg’s own Royal Canadian Mint.
David
Succeed by failing different every time
“You’ll be MY boss, one day”
Andrew
Barry:
Another of the great failing 6 word stories. Well done.
Mike
I like the reversal of this story, treat people how you would like to be treated because that might just be the case. Reminds me of NBC’s Office.
David
I use the following as part of my signature when I’m signing books.
“Life is a journey…so enjoy.”
“Dare to dream…and dream BIG!”
~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
bestselling author of Whale Song
When working for other companies, I have been known to be very competitive. :)
“Let’s squash the competition like bugs!”