I have a friend who has just got back from Romania after attending a conference on storytelling. What has that got to do with the business you may ask? Isn’t that something you do with children?
Storytelling is one of the many tools a leader needs to have in their toolkit. It’s one of the most powerful ways of communicating a strategy or a new direction to your staff.
We have all had that one boss where we knew they were going to go into one of their stories. Something that happened in the past, something they or someone did, that either worked out well or was a complete failure.
The story always has an outcome, “it’s a good reason to do this because, I remember….”, or alternatively, “it’s the reason we don’t do that”.
When the leader creates a series of stories that can be retold over and over again it engages us but all give us guidance on what they expect.
I remember well a previous organisation that knew the stories and values of the CEO so well. So well that, the phase “Jude would do or not do that” was a common conversation. As leaders, we need understand what message we’re trying to communicate and the tools we can use to communicate them
If you enjoyed this article, check out my blog on how I hit an iceberg, sunk and survived!
Growing Up – Unleash Your Business Growth
I have just published a book “Growing Up – Unleash Your Business Growth” aimed at Business Owners who have a passion and vision for Business Growth. If you manage a medium size business, are battling with growth roadblocks and have a passion to change I am happy to send you a copy of my book free of charge. (yes it is a real book, not an ebook). Just follow the link at
www.unleashyourbusinessgrowth.com
David Nixon is Director, Advisor, Author, and Entrepreneur and recognised as Australia’s Authority on Unleashing Growth Barriers For SME’s.
