Chief Evangelist with Ethan Beute

Today’s guest is Mike Grigsby, Executive Advisor at MWGrigs LLC and Citizen Engagement Solutions Lead at Lumen Technologies. Mike joins Ethan Beute and shares one of the best analogies you'll hear to the work of evangelism. Mike discusses the importance of having your evangelist get out there to prepare the way and spread the good news of the change or transformation ahead. 
Be sure to listen for Mike's advice on how you can do better at asking questions in order to get people to engage with you, as well as balancing an internal and external voice for your message.


Takeaways:
  • Mike thinks that the primary role of an evangelist is to spread the good news. Whether it's about a particular product or about a domain, he believes the main role is to spread the good news.
  • Another role Mike thinks is crucial for an evangelist is to pave the way and prepare the way. Mike believes that there is an educational and awareness element around evangelism that he thinks should not be dismissed or overlooked.
  • One of the core attributes an evangelist should give is an “aha” moment to those around them. Evangelists help break down complexity for others to help them get started on their journeys.
  • As you make a shift to change, you have to communicate about the change with your external stakeholders, your customers, and your partners. Ask yourself, what does it look like? What does your supply chain look like? How is that shift in your organization's direction? How is that gonna affect all of the stakeholders around?
  • The evangelist focuses on the problem, not the product. Mike believes that this is a key component of understanding how to activate the role of evangelism in the organization or externally to your stakeholders.
  • A big failure that Mike has seen in companies is that the evangelist has not been enabled or empowered at the highest levels. Mike believes that there almost needs to be an agnostic element where the evangelist plays a role within the company.


Quote of the Show:
  • “I have a passion for seeing that light bulb moment in people.” (05:28)


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Chief Evangelist is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Creators & Guests

Host
Ethan Beute
Ethan Beute is the Chief Evangelist at Follow Up Boss, former Chief Evangelist at BombBomb, host of The Customer Experience Podcast, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Human-Centered Communication and Rehumanize Your Business.

What is Chief Evangelist with Ethan Beute?

Welcome to Chief Evangelist, the podcast that unravels the unique and potent role of Chief Evangelists and the influential movement they lead. Hosted by Ethan Beute, each episode delves into the world of evangelism work, exploring its intricacies and shedding light on what success truly means in this space. From understanding why focusing on a problem is more impactful than a product, to the overlap and divergence with thought leadership, community building, category design, and traditional sales and marketing – this podcast is your go-to resource for insights into innovation and the demand for evangelism. Whether you're aspiring to be a Chief Evangelist or seeking to comprehend its significance, join Ethan for captivating conversations with evangelists across diverse companies, verticals, and industries.