Illuminate: Ignite Change Through Speeches, Stories, Ceremonies, and Symbols

Nancy and Patti help leaders understand why even our very best rehearsed and timely communications FLOP! Despite being brief, clear, charming... and even presenting to the right audience, won't always produce results.Nancy and Patti will force you to look at communication and storytelling in yet another way. These ladies take one beyond the hero's journey and most importantly give leaders practical advice as to how to improve and better explain "the change" we would like our audience to experience.Too often our audience/organization/customers/clients seem to agree on the next steps... they agree it's tactically the right way to take them... and despite you leading the way, though they are all in agreement with you, not enough follow.Nancy and Patti will help you cross the chasm of empathy and persuasion in order to positively influence your audience.Well why not 5 Stars?I wish there was 2 rating systems, one for REAL Experts (like Nancy & Patti)... and one for wannabe internet experts. Because I am rating this book in light of their previous 2 books, this book is a 4 Star.If Nancy had only written "Slideology" and skipped "Resonate", this would be a 5-Star... but in light of the HIGH BAR they have set at DUARTE, I think it's fair to say this is a 4-Star.Don't worry, If this book is your Intro to Nancy Duarte and Patti... I promise you too will become a FAN!Oh, and if you're wondering which of the 3 books to read first, I'd start with this book, as it feels more like an intro to Resonate,.. then Resonate, and finish with Slideology.

Meet my new best friend, “Illuminate: Ignite Change Through Speeches, Stories, Ceremonies, and Symbols.”Really. Start with the 10 case studies—compelling/memorable—guaranteed to keep you off your $1,000 iPhone. Next, the gorgeous fold-out book summary—bound between pages 58 and 59. And the big idea: “Movements follow a story structure.”And here’s the structure—five actions:--Dream (the moment of inspiration)--Leap (the moment of decision)--Fight (the moment of bravery)--Climb (the moment of endurance)--Arrive (the moment of reflection)The authors, Nancy Duarte and Patti Sanchez, have shared their firm’s trade secrets and they didn’t hold back: 321 pages of inspiration, how-to, more inspiration, more how-to, and practical detail and head-nodding context—with dozens and dozens of delicious aha! moments.Here’s what struck me—immediately. My old school approach (30 years as a CEO):--Identify a problem, crisis, or opportunity.--Leverage my intuition and best practices portfolio.--I like to write—so leverage my writing tools. (Others, I noticed, like to speak—so they leveraged their oratory to warn or inspire the troops.)--Apply my preferred tools to the situation.--Done!Guess what? It didn’t work that often.But there’s still hope for you. The book’s “Communication Toolkit” tutors leaders and managers across a fascinating array of tools and action steps. Much like Ecclesiastes 3, there is a season for everything. “There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth…” (MSG).Example: Picture a five-column grid and column headings of Dream, Leap, Fight, Climb, and Arrive. Then visualize four horizontal rows: Speeches, Stories, Ceremonies, and Symbols.When should leaders use stories versus ceremonies? When you’re in “Fight” mode, you have two options: “Overcome the Enemy Story” or pull out your “Come From Behind Story.” But maybe…a speech would be more appropriate—like the “Underdog Speech.”Whew! It’s all here—a toolkit, the science, the nuances, and the rich non-technical content. I’ve never, ever read a book like it. You may already employ some of these methodologies, but perhaps driven more by the coolness factor rather than a 30,000-foot intentionality.The case studies (and mini-stories) are stunning. Example:"Illuminate" highlights Airbnb’s beginnings, when cofounders Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky responded to a hotel room shortage in San Francisco:“Brian and I both quit our jobs to become entrepreneurs…[but just then] our rent went up and suddenly we found ourselves unable to afford our apartment…. That same weekend a design conference was coming to San Francisco that was so big all the hotels had sold out in the city…. We started to think creatively: What if we were able to blow up an air mattress, put it in our living room, and rent it out to designers who need a place to stay for the conference? We could go so far as to cook them breakfast, and by the end of the night we had this concept called Airbed and Breakfast…. Within 24 hours…we had people who started writing us from all over the world who wanted to stay in our living room. We made a thousand dollars and they saved our apartment.”In the Executive Summary (available online), the authors warn: “Change Is Critical.” They add, “Businesses can choose to embrace change or ignore it—but they cannot stop it. When a company chooses not to change, the industry simply evolves past it. To thrive, organizations must continually reinvent themselves by imagining and implementing new initiatives.”Then this:--“40% of newly created companies last less than 10 years.”--“50% of Fortune 500 companies will be replaced by new companies in 59 years or less.”Is your mission/movement/cause stalled, plateaued, or declining? This book will help.

Somone suggested that the hard copy is better but i found it comparable to the kindle edition. Nancy's work is always useful. Given my work on organizational transformation and narrative I am using some of these ideas already and to have examples validating how they have been used makes it easier to talk about to others.

This book came to me at a time of great need. Our organization is radically transforming, and quickly. This book has helped us bring travelers along in a meaningful and productive way, rather than the chaos and fear that existed previously. The power of stories, symbols, ceremonies and speeches cannot be underestimated. Travelers may not understand the “mechanics” of these tools, but they will understand the way the journey leaves them feeling. And that is precisely what Illuminate helps torchbearers do—to take travelers on a journey, filled with empathy on behalf of leaders, and hopefully commitment on the part of travelers.

Much credit to Nancy Duarte. This is one of her best. If you want to know how to engage your audience....get this book. If you want to stand out from others ........get this book. If you want to change the quality of your work..get this book. I could go on but you get the idea. I recommend you get this book and put it to use now!

Some great education and examples of how to put together professional presentations. Takes you through the process, the psychology and the rationale. Well worth the time and money.

Loved the all the stories which brought the different stages to life !! Thanks you made sense of transition and steps towards a vision. Fight climb fight climb etc... understanding people's possible feelings and responses internal and external so helpful

Great book.

Fairly motivational, but the message becomes repetitive.

Beautifully illustrated and annotated book packed with useful information and examples.Essentially about leading and change - very insightful.