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I just returned home from a work trip in Portland, my first time there since before COVID. If you haven’t been, Portland is a vibe, and today, I’d like to explore what I mean by that.
First, a definition check:
vibe
/vīb/ :
the atmosphere of a place as communicated to and felt by others.
So, vibe is the story created by the essence and experience of a place or person.
The Story of Portland from a 36-hour visit, as experienced by me
When people exit the bus from the rear door, they make sure to shout to the driver up front: “Thank you!” Restaurant patrons ask where the chicken comes from (in this video I’ve shared with you before, which is a joke, but only because it’s a slight exaggeration). The people of Portland, in general, are woke, friendly, and welcoming. As a solo traveler, I could walk into a crowded, boisterous small restaurant, and rather than be intimidated, I felt welcomed by a bartender with a warm smile who set a menu down for me as she made room at the bar.
What other city would support the largest independent bookstore in the world? As I left Powell’s Books with my arms full of fun purchases, a woman stopped me and gave me the kindest compliment, telling me I looked great. I thanked her and realized as I walked down the following few blocks that my smile was still wide, my step was a little lighter, and I thought, how great is it for women to lift women? The next time I think the same about someone walking down the street, instead of giving her the side-eye up and down secretly, I will stop her and tell her what I’m thinking. It’s up to us, after all, and wouldn’t it be nice to give someone the same feeling?
As I prepared to head home, I made the requisite stop at Voodoo Donuts to bring something home for Patrick and walked across the street to catch the train to the airport. I entered the main terminal and was blown away by the stunning space and how it tells the story of Portland. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a photo and can’t find a copyright-free image to share here, so LMGTFY (let me Google that for you) if you want to see it yourself. It turns out the new terminal just opened in August. The ceiling was a magnificent wood sculpture; there were trees and a fountain, and I felt immersed in the peace and beauty of the Pacific Northwest. But then, I wondered about all that wood and thought about the forests that were obliterated to provide for that. As I walked down the concourse to my gate, it was as if they had anticipated my question, and I found the following graphics on the wall, telling the story of the PDX renovation, from its inception to the sustainable practices used in its construction. Let’s check out a few images of it.
Show Instead of Tell
Some things I loved about this hallway story:
- It meets people where they are: I’m a captive audience because my flight doesn’t leave for another hour, so I had time to linger in the long concourse, “meet the people,” and understand who and how they did this renovation.
- Notice that on image 1, I can find a link to the FULL story. Stories are revealed over time, and thanks for giving us the option to learn more if we want and not overwhelm us in the first go-round.
- In a friendly and welcoming Portland way, they invite me to say “Hello to a few locals who made PDX.” (real, personal language)
- They could have just told us, they believe in diversity and inclusion, but they didn’t. Instead, they show us. I love NATE jumping in the middle of the terminal (with the iconic PDX carpet) because he represents minority contractors and could successfully bring them in to work on this project.
- They could have said, “We only use sustainably harvested wood,” but they didn’t. They show us: Check out Valerie. She put my mind to rest because the wood didn’t get wasted: they used it in the paneling. (construction has so much waste!) Like the couple in the restaurant asking where the chicken comes from, we get to see where the wood comes from – with photos of the people and the forest, explaining that wood can be sustainably sourced and harvested.
There is a certain satisfaction and flow in having your needs and questions anticipated and handled. When it doesn’t work, it’s frustrating – like when my hotel in-room coffee was cramped inside a closet with poor lighting, and the cup flooded all over the shelf or when I realized I was out of toothpaste and headed downstairs before sunrise, hoping the front desk had some. They didn’t, so I had to walk five blocks in my pseudo PJs to the nearest store. It’s an example of not thinking through the experience and how you want customers to feel.
On the other hand, you walk through a beautiful space that creates a feeling of harmony and presence and turn the corner to find a mural and collage that responds and reacts to what is on your mind.
Storytelling can be easy in some ways, and to level it up is to know and anticipate what your audience will need at any given moment.
Thanks, PDX, for transforming an otherwise mundane moment into one of discovery, thankfully, with my delicious Stumptown coffee in hand. (IYKYK)
Take care out there.
PS. Get your stories together! November, December, and January are perfect times to prepare for 2025 with my Storycoaching program. I have only a few openings for this one-to-one engagement that lasts three months.
If you are a senior or emerging leader, entrepreneur, or technical and service professional, this is a great opportunity to get an outside perspective and to craft a stable of 3 to 5 stories you can use in your upcoming presentations or meetings. Comment below or contact me if interested, and I can send you the details.
SOME WAYS I MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU AND YOUR TEAM:
LEAD YOUR WAY: This mentoring/coaching program is designed to help you step into your leadership and show up as your best self so you can communicate to connect and amplify your impact.
COMMUNICATE TO CONNECT: In my storytelling workshops, I teach leaders of all capabilities how to engage authentically with their teams, community, and stakeholders to create meaningful connections that build trust, increase team engagement and lead to better fundraising and revenue generation.
Did you have something else in mind? Let’s talk and see how I might be able to help. Contact me and we’ll schedule a chat.
Stay in touch.
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