2017Issue6_Alabama_v9.indd

1 5 MINUTES WITH…

S e ko u Andr ews

POET, ACTOR, LEADERSHIP GURU

BY LEN LEWIS

It sounds very subtle. What’s the endgame? “To create something that’s unlike traditional speaking – a seamless experience where you can’t tell where the storytelling ends and the business content begins. “It creates this constant ’leaning in’ effect among listeners who are getting a constant stream of engagement. The audience is being educated, entertained and inspired at the same time, and they can’t get ahead of you the way they can with a traditional speaker.” It comes naturally to you because your background is in acting and speaking, but how can retail leaders develop that poetic voice? “My goal isn’t so much to teach people the art form of poetic voice but to teach them how to communicate more effectively with people in their organizations and with their customers. The goal is to teach people to see their industry through a new lens in order to open up possibilities in the way that only strategic storytelling, dynamic communications and inspiration delivered through information can.” How so? “Think about the emotional connection that art creates. If you apply that to business you bring an emotional connection to cerebral content. This way you can see supermarkets through new non-linear lens that is more than just data driven.

“I want people to step back from their daily grind and look at the power that lies in their collaboration in unique ways and how that will help them overcome the challenges facing the industry.” You have to admit that collaboration is always a difficult process. “Absolutely. Working together in concert requires us to learn how to de-silo ourselves and connect with each other in uncomfortable ways. It’s one of the challenges I have when doing senior leadership training and trying to get them to become more connected communicators. “But I can’t teach you how to become a better storyteller until you insist you are one and insist on delivering your data though stories.” How do you go about that? “By empowering your team to take on concepts like embracing failure, challenging convention and thinking like a startup. This can ultimately create a company-wide swell of innovative thinking. It all starts with leadership opening up to a range of communication. “Leaders have to realize they’re not speaking to business cards or titles, they’re speaking to human beings, and the best way to connect is to be human. This brings value and competency to their leadership. If you resonate innovation there will be a ripple effect throughout the organization.”

He’s been a full-time poet, actor and leadership guru. But Sekou Andrews’ most important job has been helping people and companies communicate with each other and their customers. Alabama Grocer spoke with Andrews and talked about his ideas and his advocacy of the “poetic voice” to move business forward in the future. AG: You talk about the importance of a “poetic voice” and its use in business. But what is it? Andrews: “The simplest definition is a new category of speaking that blends inspirational speaking with spoken word poetry. It’s a synthesis of the business approach to speaking and the artistic approach to performing.” Do poetry and business really go together? “They are sometimes perceived as mixing oil and water. But when fused correctly they really create an elixir that can solve problems in a way you didn’t expect. And much of that is based on helping organizations tell their story and get their message across in uniquely powerful ways whether it’s about technology, social media or human resources.”

Continued on page 32 ▶

31

ALABAMA GROCER |