When it comes to movies, TV shows, and novels, it’s usually pretty obvious who the hero of the story is. But what about in your organization’s story? Do you recognize who plays the role of the hero for your organization? That was the focus of my previous piece, which I’m grateful to see received a lot of attention and enthusiasm from the readers of this blog.

As I read the comments and responses to this piece, I began to wonder about something. If we understand that our employees are the heroes of our organization’s story, why then do so many employees feel disengaged at work? Why is there a persisting lack of meaning or purpose connected to the efforts and contributions made by those we lead?

Of course, the easy answer to such a question is to simply cast blame on an aloof or uncaring leadership; of organizations being run simply to cater to the whims and self-interests of those on top at the expense of those on the lower rungs. Certainly, the public revelations made about how Goldman Sachs has devolved from a focus of serving their clients to a more self-serving one would seem to support this.

And yet, a more realistic view of today’s organizations reveals that such leadership and cultural attitudes tend to be more the exception than the norm. When it comes to demonstrating that your employees are the heroes in your organization’s story, the disconnect we’re seeing here Click here to continue reading »”How Are You Helping Your Employees To Be Your Organization’s Heroes?”

When it comes to storytelling in business, the most commonly used story archetype is that of the hero and their quest. Essentially, these stories involve a protagonist whose normal life is disrupted by some external change and subsequently goes on a journey in an attempt to resolve or improve the situation.

As the story progresses, the hero seeks the help of a guide or mentor to help them overcome the various obstacles in their path while keeping them on track to reaching their destination. By the end of their quest, the hero not only attains an outcome which serves to improve things, but they also realize that they’ve been transformed as a result of their adventure, having gained a greater understanding of themselves and the nature of their journey.

It’s not too surprising that this particular story archetype is often used in business to communicate ideas or a new vision as it serves to reinforce our perception of leadership. Namely, how leaders address the challenges that stand in the way of their organization’s success by taking their team on a journey defined by their vision or plans for change.

Also, given the fact that it’s the decisions and choices made by those in leadership positions which ultimately determines whether an organization will be successful or not, it’s only natural that we view leaders as playing the role of the hero in an organization’s story. And yet, a closer examination of the hero’s story described above reveals that the real hero Click here to continue reading »”Identifying The Real Hero In Your Organization’s Story”

When it comes to communicating the vision or goals you have for your organization, few vehicles serve to deliver your message as effectively as the art of storytelling. In fact, some of the most respected leaders have relied on storytelling to not only communicate their vision, but to encourage their employees to embrace the changes being put forth by their organization’s leadership.

For example, former IBM CEO Lou Gerstner used his man-on-the-outside perspective to introduce new stories that not only communicated why changes were needed to ensure their competitiveness, but of how his employees could play a part in creating this new reality.

Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, on the other hand, used the story of the struggles the company endured going from simply being an online shoe retailer to a company that “delivers happiness” to remind his employees of how their culture and values help them to fulfill their shared purpose.

Unfortunately, despite the obvious benefits that comes from using storytelling to communicate a message or idea, these two leaders are among only a handful who use this medium to share their vision or purpose with their team. One reason behind this is that most leaders Click here to continue reading »”How To Create The Story Behind Your Organization’s Purpose”

Last week, I was invited to guest host the weekly #kaizenblog chat on Twitter in which we discussed how to nurture and sustain creativity when we write. From the first question I asked to start the conversation going, there was a general consensus that one major key for instilling creativity in our writing is the ability to tell stories. While the art of storytelling is something that’s vital to the process of writing in a creative fashion, it’s also an important pillar in how we communicate and how we transfer information and ideas to those around us.

Through the act of telling stories, we can elicit emotional connections that not only help to make these moments more tangible and accessible, but also easy to recall long after the event has passed. Although the Click here to continue reading »”Getting Back To The Art of Storytelling”