Good stories are easily remembered and re-told and they evoke emotions, and emotions drive action – that's what make them such a powerful tool.
I've witnessed how stories can shape workshop outcomes, help land vital information, embed new behaviours and ultimately help shift cultures. Because when people relate to a character, when they recognise a situation, when they feel something, they become more open to change in their own attitudes, values and beliefs.
You don't need to be the best or most confident presenter either – because when you tell a story from the heart – you will have people on the edges of their seat.
Years ago, I ran a safety stand-down event for a team of offshore engineers. They were initially reluctant to spend their no-sail day discussing health and safety. We began by asking why safety mattered to them. One manager recounted a harrowing night.
It was 11pm on a Winters evening and he and his wife were preparing to go to bed. His work phone rang. One of the divers from a team of contractors working on some underwater repairs had got trapped… they were trying to free him, it didn't look good. He should come to the depot immediately.
He grabbed his coat, but before he left he went up to his infant son's bedroom and just looked at him for a moment sleeping in his cot, his hair was ruffled, his cheeks pink and his little mouth open… he realised that the stricken diver may never get to see his child or any future child again… he had never forgotten that moment.
As he told his story his voice broke and he choked away tears… the effect that his genuine emotion had on the rest of the team was moving... he allowed himself to be vulnerable in front of them, he had been truly authentic in that moment… any cynics in the room were silenced – we came out of the day with some great ideas and renewed commitment to get everyone home safe and well. The impact of that story lingered with everyone, including me.
This approach to authentic, emotional storytelling is at the heart of our award-winning work with clients like Transport for London and Mitie, where leaders' personal stories have driven culture transformation.
Get in touch if you'd like to arm your leaders and managers with the skills to discover and retell the stories that could make all the difference to shift your culture, one behaviour at a time, one story at a time.
