Chapter 9

Implementing storytelling into your organisation

As I look around me today, I see that too few business leaders grasp the idea that stories can have a profound effect on people. The gestures made (or not made) by leaders can turn into the stories that powerfully affect behaviour.

Leaders who understand this and use this knowledge to help make their organisations great are the ones we admire and wish others would emulate. Those in leadership positions who fail to grasp or use the power of stories risk failure for their companies and for themselves.

John Kotter, expert and author on leadership and change

By now you have hopefully realised just how powerful business storytelling is. It can increase your sales, engage your team in a new strategy and make your team meetings more interesting. Now imagine the benefits your organisation would enjoy if everyone in it used storytelling.

To reap the benefits of implementing storytelling into your organisation, you have to take a strategic and sustainable approach. ‘Strategic, sustainable storytelling’ — try saying that with a lisp!

So what do we mean by ‘strategic, sustainable storytelling’?

‘Strategic’ is trying to understand what you want to achieve by introducing storytelling into your organisation. For example, is it about distinguishing yourself from your competitors; improving your leaders’ ability to connect, engage and inspire; or achieving cultural change?

‘Sustainable’ is about ensuring storytelling becomes your way ...

Get Hooked: How Leaders Connect, Engage and Inspire with Storytelling now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.