What can a controversial yet hugely successful author like Dan Brown teach you about leadership? The answer is quite a lot. So much so that I had to divide my original article into a three-part series.
The Unfinished Pyramid
The main character in several of Brown’s novels, Robert Langdon, is a symbologist. In this article, I will explain how you can also harness the power of symbols. In Langdon’s latest adventure, (The Lost Symbol), he describes the symbolic significance of the unfinished pyramid that adorns the American dollar. The image symbolises humanity as both wondrous and incomplete. It is a visual metaphor that you could easily apply to your own leadership.
All your accomplishments today manifest your competence and nous. You have achieved things that give you pride. At the same time, you have grown a little wiser along the way. But if you have a genuine commitment to excellence, you will agree that your journey towards becoming an outstanding leader is yet incomplete. There is always more to learn. This complex idea is captured in the simple yet potent symbol of the unfinished pyramid.
Business and marketing author Nick Wreden advises leaders to use the power of symbolic metaphors to enhance the impact of their communication with those they lead. Your audience may not be familiar with the latest internet security jargon. But when you hold up your ATM card and say “this is the level of security we want to introduce”, they will immediately get an intuitive understanding of what you mean. You can use the power of symbolic metaphors to get any message across in a powerful and pervasive way.
The use of symbolic metaphors is only one way to harness the power of symbols. One weekend, I was walking through a shopping centre when I came across two old gentlemen selling poppies for Remembrance Day. The poppies invoked a deep feeling inside of me. It was not so much their physical beauty that struck me, but more what they represented. The same feeling underpinned the widespread opposition to changing the Australian flag some years ago. The flag may be nothing but a piece of cloth. But for many people, it symbolises so much more. The same holds true when putting on that treasured jersey or donning the baggy green.
Symbols move us. And being able to move people through symbols is an excellent form of leadership. What are the symbols of power, authority and excellence in your organisation? How can you create an association in people’s minds between these symbols and your leadership? How can you consciously use this association to enhance your impact and influence? Take time to ponder these questions. It will definitely help you maximise the power of symbols and improve your leadership skills.
{ 2 trackbacks }