Storytelling has been on my radar screen for a while now. I realize how important stories are for communication, relationships, and for leadership, yet there was never enough “ummph” for me to spend time and money investing in the topic.
Two things happened last month. I read several informative and thought-leading articles by Dr. Kim Boal, professor of Business Management at Texas Tech University. It is Dr. Boal’s very informed opinion that there are two key functions associated with leading complex organizations; storytelling and tagging.
The second thing that happened is I was invited to attend a Smithsonian workshop on storytelling. That was easy. One quick metro ride is way better than reading and research so I agreed to participate in the two-hour introduction to storytelling as taught by Steve Denning.
Here is the quick and dirty on storytelling:
Svend-Erik Engh, Mr. Denning’s invited guest lecturer took the first hour to remind us that we all know how to stories, AND that telling a story is much more engaging, even it’s a bad story, then analytical detail about a subject. Really. Here’s his quick example: With a listener, answer these questions:
- What is storytelling?
- What is an organization?
- What happened this morning?
If you take the time to go through this exercise and then ask the listener to give you feedback on what they heard, hands down- telling about what happened was easier to remember and had a bigger impact. And here is the big point; I listened to a badly told story, and told one as well. The bad story, for connecting and communicating with another was way more powerful than the brilliant cognitive approach I prefer to use.
So, the basic on storytelling is it works and we all know how to do it. If you forget, go ask a 4 year old, they can teach you. (I’ll spare the revert to Spiral Dynamics as to why it works: hint: purple code!)
Then Mr. Denning took over the workshop. The bottom line on the next hour of instruction: Telling a story concisely, that fits the environment, and that has the impact you intend…well now, that takes a lot more work, thinking and practice. Ah! So my cognitive skills do come in handy.
But hey, it’s a start. And worth the metro ride and two hours spent at the Smithsonian. 
Filed under: Developing an Adaptive Workforce, Leadership Gap | Tagged: Kim Boal, organizations, purple code, Steve Denning, storytelling, Svend-Erik Engh
Storytelling is a very powerful communication tool – and as Steve Denning uses it a great means to influence. I like that fact that story is universal and can be used at any level within the organization. It is an excellent means of engaging employees and illustrating the desired behaviors through stories of colleagues. So much more then a leadership tool.
My husband and I just supported my step daughter through her first lease signing experience. The leasor is a student who purchased the townhome with his mom as a cosignor. He put together his lease from various resources he found, likely online. It was short, effective, covered all the bases. But the most memorable component of this legal document was the few sentences about why there is no smoking in the house or even near it, that told the story of the great fire of 2006 that was started by a roommate who burned down half of the backyard. Excellent use of truly functional “short story” telling.
I find the most compelling stories to be those that are “true.” Whether they are made up or not, those stories that contain and share the authentic are the most powerful.