84. On Visual Leadership in Life and at Work with Todd Cherches

Overview

Today I’m joined by Todd Cherches, CEO of BigBlueGumball, a NYC-based management consulting firm specializing in leadership development and executive coaching, and author of "VisuaLeadership: Leveraging the Power of Visual Thinking in Leadership and in Life."

In this conversation, we talk about Todd’s book, the power of visual thinking, and how visual thinking can be applied through visual images, mental models, metaphors, and stories to be more effective in your thinking, decision-making, and communication. Visual thinking can help us lead more powerfully both at work and in life.

Todd - You’ve packed so many useful tools into your book! And, you give more depth of insight in this conversation. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.

More About Our Guest

Todd Cherches is the CEO and co-founder of BigBlueGumball, a NYC-based management consulting firm specializing in leadership development and executive coaching. He is a member of Marshall Goldsmith’s “MG 100 Coaches,” a three-time award-winning adjunct professor of leadership at NYU, a lecturer on leadership at Columbia University, a TEDx speaker, and the author of the groundbreaking book, "VisuaLeadership: Leveraging the Power of Visual Thinking in Leadership and in Life" (Post Hill Press/Simon & Schuster, 2020).

Topics Covered

  • We start by hearing Todd’s definitions of Leadership and Visual Leadership. Within this, Todd calls us all to step into our leadership. We are all leaders, especially of our own life.

  • Todd talks about Vision and the importance of using visuals to help people to see what’s in your mind’s eye.

  • I probe on creating vision for yourself, not just within a company. What do you want others to see? What do you see for yourself?

  • I share my own takeaway from the book about how to me visual leadership and what Todd writes is about being a more effective leader in your work and in your life, and the tools he shares help you be more effective in your thinking, decision making, and communication. They can help simplify the complex and make things more clear for yourself and others.

  • Todd helps us understand what it can mean to “know how to see” and to broaden our view of seeing. And while Todd writes in the book about how important listening is to leadership, being able to see more broadly and with new eyes is also powerful. Really, as he says, we need to use all our senses to lead well.

  • We talk about visualizing and how some can get intimidated, but Todd encourages us to get past that. I love an example he shares of having a group draw what your company does. See the article link below in Resources where Todd writes about this practice.

  • We delve into mental models and how helpful they can be. I have Todd cover one in particular that I think is helpful especially when one is making life and work decisions and that’s pulling forward one’s future self. Will they thank you or blame you for that decision?

  • We cover metaphors in this conversation, as well. One in particular that I thought illustrated the power of metaphors is the remote control. How you can take greater control of your life and career by thinking about a remote control as a metaphor?

  • Todd reminds us that we are all storytellers. We shouldn’t be intimidated by the idea of storytelling. Rather I share that I think it’s important to become better at stories both to convey as a leader, as a job candidate, and to explain our own narrative of our career to ourselves, especially when in a job change. I love how Todd says, “Stories are a container for culture.” If you are a leader, your stories will shape the culture of your team or company.

  • I have Todd share one of his stories from the book that pulls forward the important concept when in conversations of being interested rather than being focused on being interesting. I like this idea to reframe how people come at networking. Be focused on being interested. Look to connect vs. impress. And add Todd’s 4 “G’s”: be genuine, generous, graceful, and grateful.

  • I ask some closing questions, especially around navigating career arcs. Todd encourages us to recognized we can always change, grow, learn, and shift. Early in the conversation, he shares how his career was a roller coaster. He encourages us to “act as if” and to lean into your 2.0 or 5.0 versions of your future self.

  • His parting thought: “be attuned and aware to things and people around you that maybe you haven't noticed or appreciated before.” Learn to see with new eyes.

Resources Mentioned

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84. On Visual Leadership in Life and at Work with Todd Cherches

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