Carl Stormer's JazzCode

Jazz -- references

Since we started the jazz collaboration project, we have run workshops/concerts with the following clients, all of whom can vouch for the quality of our work.  Click on image to see reference list:

Frequently given answers about the presentation workshop

"With few exceptions, the difficulty in putting together a written report or oral presentation stems not from inability to use language but from problems in thinking through what has to be said."

From "The Thought Process In McKinsey Reports and Presentations"

What is this about?

We spend more and more time listening to and creating presentations and written material.  But we can produce better presentations in less time if we think before we create slides or reports. 

We offer a one or two day workshop where we teach particpants to think and structure their thoughts before they start producing written material.  Using performing arts practices we also teach rehearsal and performance techniques to help you become more effective on stage. 

What is the format for your presentation workshop?

"The most useful training I ever attended" -- survey of past participants from Pannon.

The presentation workshop is divided into three modules -- Prepare, Produce, Present.

1. Prepare.  When making presentations, most people skip the first step and start writing not really knowing how to structure their message.  I spend most time on the first section which deals with presentation strategy, subject, structure, style and storyline.   This is where we review the Pyramid Principle, a strong logic structure developed by McKinsey & Co. Typically I will use a work-in-progress developed by the participants as an example.  Usually, this workshop by itself can run the course of a day.  When I did the workshop for Pannon, we spent most of our day on this section.  This section is highly interactive and involve break-out sessions and group exercises. 

1. Produce.  Most people start their presentations by changing the font and inserting a company logo on the first page.  In this module, we establish a shared production process of drafting, testing and revising.  During this phase I also talk about navigation design, non-linear presentations, mindmapping and advanced Powerpoint techniques. 
2. Present.  In this section we look at the three phases of presentation:  before, during and after the presentation.  We talk about rehearsal techniques.  About performance techniques -- how to act on stage with respect to language, body and interaction with the audience.  We also talk about following up on the presentation using polling and feedback techniques.

What is the format for this workshop?  The workshop consists of approx. 15 people interacting over two days.  We review a presentation known by the participants and shift between joint sessions and group-exercises.  Day 1 is spent working on module 1, Day 2 on module 2 and 3.   Ideally the workshop takes place off-site, and day 1 and 2 does not have to be concecutive. 

Do you do any followup after the workshop?  Yes, we offer each group to participate in an online classroom where classmates will discuss issues, and where we will answer questions and post articles and links of relevance. 

What are the major benefits?  You spend less time making presentations and your output becomes shorter and easier to understand:

• Spend less time creating presentations and written material. Teams work better and faster when they have a shared process and understanding of how presentations should be made.  This class will greatly help teams understand the key successfactors and process. 
• Spend less time reading and listening to presentations.  Spending more time thinking about the structure of a presentation makes the presentation shorter and crisper.  Putting your ideas into a storyline format makes it more interesting for your audience -- and easier to understand.
• Improve thinking, learning and decisions.  By ensuring a proper intellectual structure, complex issues can be grouped in a fashion which will speed up learning and understanding.  Proper thinking will clear the fog and help you make better decisions because you get a more thorough grasp of the subject at hand.  And you will know that issues are addressed at the right time, and that no issues will be left out. 

Jazzpresentation: Background and links

Useful information about the jazzworkshop:

• A one-page pdf file describing the even in more detail here (English and Norwegian).   
• All my customer references.
• Information about Carl Stormer.  My education, experience and contact info.
   
• Blogpost about how work is changing and why jazz is a relevant metaphor
• Customer rating from AFF  -- the Solstrand Programme, the leading Norwegian management training program
• Frequently given answers to questions about the program
• A story about how our daugthers were born -- a relevant primer in crisis-management
• Other blogposts pertaining to jazz@work
• My entire jazzblog
• My other blog where I blog about the rest of the universe.

Besetning 8 februar

Here is the personell for our upcoming engagement in Oslo, Norway on February 8th:

• Arild Andersen -- one of Europes leading bass players.  ECM recording artist and sideman on multiple records with saxophonist Jan Garbarek.
  
• Jojje Wadenius -- Swedens leading guitarist.  Top session player in New York for 15 years.  Worked with Blood Sweat & Tears, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Aretha Franklin, Robert Flack, Saturday Night Live, etc.  Produced records with Lisa Ekdal, Silje Neergård, Anne Grete Prøys and others. 
  
• Petter Wettre -- one of Norways leading saxophonists -- trained at Berklee School of Music in Boston, and a bandleader in his own right with many records as a sideman and leader.
• Carl Størmer -- business speaker, drummer, and founder of StudentUniverse, Americas leading online travel agency for students.

Frequently Given Questions about the jazzworkshop

This post answers some of the most common questions we get about the jazzworkshop I run for businesses.

What is this presentation about?
Our jobs are becoming more complex because "simple" jobs are being outsourced or automated.  The key to sustainable competitive advantage is to make knowledge workers more productive and one way to do this is to help them collaborate better.  Jazzmusicians have developed collaborative techniques enabling them to go on stage and consistently perform high-quality music in an improvisational setting.  This workshop will bring together world-class jazzmusicians and by cominging music and relevant business examples, we will show you how the techniques we use can be easily applied to a collaborative business environment.   Read  a one-page teaser here.

Carl Stormer (photo: Johan Olav Odfjell)

Why is this relevant for my business?
According to both McKinsey and IBM, the kye to competitive advantage, growth and profitability lies with a company's ability to collaborate.   With more globalisation, specialization and technology dependence, any business must collaborate to survive.  Collaborative techniques in highly unpredictable environments is  stil a new thing for many businesses.  For jazzmusicians this change is business as usual.

How does it work?  What is the format?
The purpose of the presentation is to entertain and inform.  The music is entertaining.  The talk is informative.  In addition, the listeners will be able to "understand how to listen to jazz." 

I bring two-three musicians depending on the scope of the event.  I will have an overhead projector and we combine musical examples with talk and illustrations of simple concepts.  I then draw the paralell to business.  The examples are simpe and extremely relevant in non-musical settings. 

What is your audience response?
They love it.  We usually poll the audience (anonymous) after the presentation.  On a scale from 1-6 where 6 is the best rating, 40% gives us 6, 50% gives us 5 and  10% gives us 4. 

Over 90% thinks the framework would be useful for others in their organization.  100% of our past clients are now references for potential clients (let me know if you want to ask them about our performance). 

Who are some of your past clients?
The presentation has been purchased by Telenor, Norsk Hydro, Schibsted ASA, Aschehoug, AFF Solstrand, ECON Analyse, Handelshøgskolen i Bergen, BI, Norconsult, Northzone Ventures, VISKOM and others.  Performances has ranged from 15  to 300 people.   See list here.

Can you tailor the message to our business?
Of course.  I will have meetings with the key stakeholders and build a message around specific issues that you, the client wants to address.  When speaking to first-line managers at an aluminae processing plant, we spoke about risk-management, just-in-time management and the need for constant improvement.  At a gathering for management consultants, we spoke about talent markets and how to use improvisational techniques to tailor intellectual property around clients.

How much time do you need?
This is really up to you.  A typical session can run anywhere from 20-minutes (with recorded music) to 90 minutes.  We have found 2x45 minutes to work the best.  The optimal setting would be the jazz-club setting where 30-100 participants gather in an intimate room clustered around small tables.  We have done this often as an evening event after dinner.  This works well and the format combines entertainment and professional material in a very relaxed and inspirational setting.

How much does it cost?
The price depends on the setting, the number of participants, location, industry (profit/non-profit, etc.) and is available upon request.  Pls. call +617 381-4321 (US)  or +47 92380846 (Norway)

Who are these "world-class" musicians?
I try to vary musicians because part of what we show is how we can actually go on stage without having met beforehand.  In the past I have used Arild Andersen, Tore Brunborg, Petter Wettre, Jojje Wadenius, Anders Aarum, Jan Olav Renvåg, Rune Klakegg and Marius Haltlie.  I would use local musicians in most major cities worldwide.