In this episode, we begin the leader’s journey by meeting Jonathan who, upon agreeing to play the Game Changer publicly through this podcast, cautioned me “I’m not a leader”. As you listen, you may hear him reveal otherwise -- whether he recognizes it yet, or not.

1:54: Discovery of language

3:00: Love for Europe begins

10:38: Urgent need to talk about Europe

15:00: The state of the world 

23:00: What does the word “leader” evoke?

28:35: Expectations of the Illumify Game Changer

36:21: Do you see yourself as a leader?

43:00: “I do feel I have things to say and want to say them.”

58:00: Stories are not enough. We need to put our bodies on the line.

1:14:37: The word vision has gone missing.

1:19:50: Vision is vital to igniting change.

Produced by NOVA

A special announcement about The Illumify Game Changer Podcast.

Through the Illuminate questions, Jonathan surfaced the insights that allowed him to find his vision of meaningful change. Now, having completed the Amplify questions, he has the words to express it. But that’s not the only change. In this minisode from episode 50, this leader acknowledges that he, too, has changed since he embarked on the leader’s journey. Is it enough to be able to ignite his big vision?

In this conversation, we spoke about how Jonathan looked different, less anguished. And he certainly sounds different from when he began his Illumify Game Changer experience.

As I guide people through this leader’s journey, I’m always struck by what emerges, and how it’s so distinct to them. As I said here, sometimes the “bigness” of it is enough of a shock for them to question if they’re even big enough to ignite it.

I so appreciate Jonathan sharing that he felt profound anxiety when his vision first emerged. Leadership certainly takes courage. As a leader, you not only have to challenge the status quo; you have to lead through the unknown to create the new.

There were times in Amplify where Jonathan hit his own resistance both in identifying who could help him ignite his vision and determining the specific messages to impart.

But he  persisted. And thankfully, now sees the difference it’s made to him as a leader, and to how he expresses his vision.

He also sees why these Amplify questions need to be completed before venturing forth to speak about his vision. And I’m very glad of that because I know what a difference it makes to the response. No matter how meaningful a vision of change is to a leader, if it’s not meaningful enough to others, they will not act to help. Amplify is where meaningfulness intersects, and the leader is able, as I said, to “invite” them in.

At this stage, Jonathan is able to engage, and beginning to align. Next, he moves onto Unify where he invokes them to act in the ways that help ignite his change.

The leader’s journey continues. Stay tuned.

Having now completed all of Amplify questions, in this episode Jonathan reflects on the difference it’s made both to him as a leader and to his vision of change. Was it worth all that “heavy lifting”? You’ll discover why this is a critical part of a leader’s communication and yet is sadly rarely done.

Show Notes

0:00:00      Reflections on the Amplify experience

0:04:55      Imagining how people might react to the vision.

0:09:40      The importance of resonance.

0:13:40      Fog that causes tune out.

0:16:30      Seeing the faces of those he’s speaking to.

0:19:38      Feeling profound anxiety when the vision first emerged.

0:23:00      Our immigration conversation tested every part of the vision.

0:27:00      Is this a political vision?

0:30:14      We’re asking ourselves, “Are we in the same world anymore?”

0:36:49      Channeling anger into action.

0:43:30      Putting a face on those you want to reach.

0:52:25      Feeling more at home now.

0:53:27      The vital importance of the kitchen table.

0:58:00      Your vision has changed you.

1:03:00      In Amplify, you figured out have to express it so others get it too.

1:06:40      Is it more doable now?

1:09:00      Why were you surprised that you Amplify before you speak?

1:13:00      Amplify seemed to say to me that it’s not about perfecting the language.

1:16:00      Amplify “invites” them in to your vision.

A leader’s ability to engage and mobilize the collective that can help ignite change comes down to being able to do what this minisode from episode 49 reveals.

Well, he’s done it. Jonathan has now reached a milestone in the leader’s journey.  He’s completed all of the Amplify questions designed to ensure that he can express his vision of change in the way that makes it meaningful not just to him but to all those who can help ignite it.

Jonathan would probably agree that it hasn’t been easy. This wordsmith didn’t want to change or simplify the verbiage or phrases that he had speech crafted with such love and mastery. But he sees now that the process of, as he put it, tinkering with the messaging in the garage under the bonnet, or hood, of the car is essential to ensuring it’s road worthy.

My hope is that you see this too. Because it’s well worth the effort when it ensures that your vision of change is meaningful enough for others to do their part to help realize it. Unfortunately, all of this work is rarely done with the diligence it deserves. So others don’t act and vital change doesn’t fully ignite.

There’s one more level of The Illumify Game Changer to come. And it’s where a leader’s words and actions literally come together.

The leader’s journey continues.

We’ve reached the final question in the Amplify level of The Illumify Game Changer. And it’s a critical one. This is where the leader determines whether or not how he expresses his vision of change will invoke others to spread the word.

Show Notes

0:01:08      Amplify Question 42:  Will they “get it” enough to choose to tell others?

0:04:28      To tell somebody else is the beginning of action.

0:09:25      There’s a difference between listening and acting. 

0:12:50      There’s an invitation for them to step in and take part.

0:16:45      Final Answer.

0:20:02      What it means to Amplify.

We often assume that when we say things once, people hear us and remember what we’ve said. But that’s a risky assumption when you’re a leader and you need others to act on what you’ve said themselves and invoke those, they know to do the same. In this minisode, Jonathan learns the reason he must enable others to repeat what he’s said.

As a leader, when you have positional authority over others and you ask them to act, well, they should. They don’t always of course.

But when, like Jonathan, you don’t have a title with positional authority, it’s all the more essential that you convey your vision of change so that it becomes meaningful to those who can help you ignite it. Or as Jonathan said, it becomes part of their landscape, their life.

That’s yet another reason why a leader’s words matter. And why there are so many questions in the Amplify level of the Illumify Game Changer designed to make it matter to others.

This episode takes us near the end of Amplify, where we head next into Unify. You may notice that we’re already speaking about action more and more.

That’s because a leader’s vision depends on the actions of others to help realize it.

As Jonathan sees in this conversation, some parts of his vision are going to be simple for them to repeat. Others will not yet.

As a writer, it’s not his pen that has to express his vision. It’s his voice. He has to speak it. So, his messaging must be written for the ear, not the eye. That’s always important when speaking but essential if you want others to be able to repeat what you’ve said.

And that’s the ultimate aim. When others become willing ambassadors for your vision.

The leader’s journey continues. Stay tuned.