Release The Stories In Your Organization

Release the Stories in Your Organization Robert Stjernström 0 © Acando AB 2009-11-11

Let me introduce you to YOU © Acando AB

YOU were born some years ago © Acando AB

like everyone else – YOU have your ORIGIN © Acando AB

YOUR stories © Acando AB

YOUR stories Joy 100 range from 90 here 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Age © Acando AB

YOUR stories Joy 100 90 to here 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Age © Acando AB

YOUR stories Joy 100 90 over time 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Age © Acando AB

YOUR stories childhood and all the experiences that made you WHO YOU ARE TODAY © Acando AB

YOUR stories and as of today and YOUR DAILY EXPERIENCES © Acando AB

YOUR stories and YOUR DREAMS ABOUT THE FUTURE © Acando AB

this might be true but what does it have to do with organizational storytelling? 11 © Acando AB 2009-11-11

a corporation is an individual consisting of individuals © Acando AB

with a past, present and dreams about the future © Acando AB

with stories everywhere: individual, collective, conscious, unconscious, contemporary, historical, future © Acando AB

and what the corporation creates Branding Annual reports Products and services © Acando AB

Branding Annual reports Products and services 16 © Acando AB 2009-11-11

so a corporation is a story 17 © Acando AB 2009-11-11

so a corporation is a story that creates nothing but 18 © Acando AB 2009-11-11

so a corporation is a story that creates nothing but stories 19 © Acando AB 2009-11-11

yeah, but WHY should I BOTHER? 20 © Acando AB 2009-11-11

#1 information overflow and rapid social change makes us crave for meaning © Acando AB

#1 information overflow and rapid social change makes us crave for meaning 30 % 200 M$ #2 facts convince the rational mind, not 100 M€ our emotions 10 % 3 months 3 years 1 year © Acando AB

we must increase we must save #1 information overflow and rapid social change makes us crave for meaning 200 M$ 30 % #2 facts convince the rational mind, not 100 M€ our emotions 10 % #3 while facts are dots on a screen – in story connects facts to something meaningful 3 months 3 years 1 year in order to survive © Acando AB increased market share

lousy leadership #1 information overflow and rapid social inefficiency change makes us crave for meaning #2 facts convince the rational mind, not our emotions low value #3 while facts are dots on a screen – story connects facts to something high meaningful spending #4 when the naked truth walk through town everyone shut their windows better competitors incompetent employees © Acando AB

once upon a time … #1 information overflow and rapid social change makes us crave for meaning imagine #2 facts convince the rational mind, not our emotions picture #3 while facts are dots on a screen – yourself story connects facts to something meaningful what if? #4 when the naked truth walk through town everyone shut their windows #5 stories transcends us to an alternate state of mind, a sort of hypnosis © Acando AB

70 % of change initiatives fail (Kotter) no technology required no large investment immediate we are already result storytellers managers talk 78 % of the time (Mintzberg) makes people remember storytelling is the most important success factor (McKinsey) inclusive - invites to collaboration we can all be better storytellers makes sense of sequences of events © Acando AB

I get it now show me HOW! 28 © Acando AB 2009-11-11

Me! 29 © Acando AB 2009-11-11

The Me Story Communicate traits and experiences to make a lasting first impression and You! increase trust You! You! You! You! You! You! You! You! You! unexpected, credible / true, human 30 © Acando AB 2009-11-11

The Success Story An example of a successful activity to create a feeling of possibility, increase trust and communicate values. move the audience, unexpected, credible / true, human, emotional, simple © Acando AB

The Change Story An example where the change already has occurred to create understanding and motivation Facts may convince executives Stories ignite action What’s in it for me, my colleagues, my organization Stories about what we do and are going to do credible / true, simple © Acando AB

The Company Value Story Communicate the company’s values through it’s true actions credible / true, simple © Acando AB

The Rumor Anesthetic The use of facts or irony to decrease the impact of false rumors and contra-stories human, credible / true 34 © Acando AB 2009-11-11

The Knowledge and Experience Sharing Story An example of a problem or a challenge and the methods used to solve it credible / true / factual, simple 35 © Acando AB 2009-11-11

“Everything that exists is here because someone dreamed it up” Neil Gaiman © Acando AB

The Vision Story Envisioning a future state to create understanding and motivation move the audience, simple / no details, credible / true, emotional 37 © Acando AB 2009-11-11

The Coffee Machine Story Quickly communicate your values and why you and your ideas are valuable simple / short © Acando AB

The Coffee Machine Story Quickly communicate your values and why you and your You speak ideas are at a rate of 100 wpm valuable simple / short © Acando AB

The Coffee Machine Story Quickly communicate your values and why you and your You speak ideas are at a rate of 100 wpm valuable 1 minute = 1/3 of a written page simple / short © Acando AB

The Coffee Machine Story Quickly communicate your values and why you and your You speak ideas are at a rate of 100 wpm valuable 1 minute = 1/3 of a written page How much do you prepare? simple / short © Acando AB

ok, “The choice for leaders in business and organizations is not whether to be involved in storytelling – they can hardly do otherwise” but where do I use the Steve Denning stories? © Acando AB

Change Management 70% failure Storytelling most important success factor Creates a sense of meaning Understanding and motivation The Me Story, The Success Story, The Change Story, The Rumor Anesthetic, The Vision Story, The Coffee Machine Story © Acando AB

Knowledge Management Learning by sharing Transform tacit knowledge to explicit Dramatic stories with vivid images are easy to remember Storytelling is not good for critical skills The Knowledge and Experience Sharing Story 45 © Acando AB 2009-11-11

“To start a culture change all we need to do is two simple things: 1. Do dramatic story- worthy things that represent the culture we want to create. Then let other people tell stories about it. 2. Find other people who do story-worthy things that represent the culture we want to create. Then tell stories about them” Peter Bregman, Harvard Business Review © Acando AB

Corporate Culture Stories stores the culture Stories to identify existing culture Stories to influence existing culture Stories creates counter stories The Company Value Story, The Rumor Anesthetic, The Knowledge and Experience Sharing Story © Acando AB

Branding True stories to convey value Made up stories to add value and entertain Based on the organization, product or service Story most important for the total experience of the brand The Company Value Story, The Rumor Anesthetic © Acando AB

Information Management We need to understand the information at our fingertips Information leads to knowledge Leads to decision Leads to change and new information The Success Story, The Change Story, The Knowledge and Experience Sharing Story, The Vision Story 49 © Acando AB 2009-11-11

wait a minute, “The choice for leaders in business and organizations is not whether to this is overwhelming ... can hardly be involved in storytelling – they do otherwise” where do I start as a Steve Denning co-worker, manager or as a consultant? © Acando AB

co-worker, manager, consultant Understand the power of stories Know different kind of stories for different occasions Tell your and other’s stories, and let others tell yours Keep a library of stories The Me Story, The Success Story, The Change Story, The Company Value Story, The Rumor Anesthetic, The Knowledge and Experience Sharing Story, The Vision Story, The Coffee Machine Story 51 © Acando AB 2009-11-11

fair enough “The choice for leaders in business and organizations is and where not whether to be involved in storytelling – they can hardly do otherwise” do I find Steve Denning the stories? © Acando AB

“Stories are all around us, in words and sounds, in what we see and in what we feel; everything is a story, everything tells a story” Frank A. Mills © Acando AB

Identify Stories in Your Organization Stories already exist in your organization telling a story leads to people opening up and sharing their stories © Acando AB

Identify Stories in Your Organization Stories already exist in your organization Clarify strategic purpose telling a story leads to people opening up and sharing their stories © Acando AB

Identify Stories in Your Organization Stories already exist in your organization Clarify strategic purpose Elicit through interviews or work shops telling a story leads to people opening up and sharing their stories © Acando AB

Identify Stories in Your Organization Stories already exist in your organization Clarify strategic purpose Elicit through interviews or work shops Strengthen, communicate and… © Acando AB

Robert Stjernström management consultant that helps organizations optimize their business using Storytelling and IT www.enterprisestorytelling.se robert.stjernstrom@acando.com twitter.com/rbrtstar special thanks to Oscar Berg and Lisa Stjernström for inspiration 62 © Acando AB 2009-11-11

Release The Stories In Your Organization

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