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Posted by Aleksandar M. Velkoski on April 22, 2009 under Leadership Quotes | 
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“Let them alone: they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leadeth the blind, both will fall into the ditch.” Matthew 15:14
Picture Credit: Quality IntegrationPosted by Aleksandar M. Velkoski on April 18, 2009 under General Leadership | 4 Comments to Read
When I was a senior in my undergraduate program, I enrolled in an advanced communications course called Professional Presentation Strategies. The course focused on teaching students how to approach effective communication through storytelling. For me, this was a novel concept. I always thought of storytelling as something that we did around a camp fire. However, the reality of the matter is that storytelling can be an excellent way to effectively communicate ideas to others.
Storytelling is not, by any means, a brand new concept. Storytelling has been a big part of human oral tradition for thousands of years. As a matter of fact, storytelling is particularly influential in my cultural heritage (and has been for a very long time). From my personal experience I can say that my parents are master storytellers. When I look back a generation or two preceding my parents, I find even more skillful storytellers. And, let me clarify for a moment: by storytelling I do not mean telling an embellished narrative for entertainment or any other purpose. What I do mean by storytelling is the ability to convey meaning through a description, account, or narrative.
As time has passed through the ages, we have relied less on oral tradition and more on writing to convey meaning. Through this transition, new generations have lost their natural human ability to craft and use story (I’ll include myself in this category). Storytelling is so much more than creative speech and leaders can use story to effectively convey meaning.
Take, for example, a leader that wants to communicate to his people that both ethics and integrity are required within the organization. Not only does he believe that ethics and integrity are required within the organization, but also he wants to make these two items cultural norms within the organization. He sends out a memo, which everyone reads, directly stating that fact. And, his actions complement his statements. How effective do you think this leader will be in his direct communication? Say that instead of communicating directly in the above manner, this leader decides to tell a story about why ethics and integrity are so important to him and why the organization should follow. Perhaps a story about Enron is told, and the hardships faced by its people due to poor ethical standars? Perhaps a story about an ethical organization is told to highlight the advantages? Perhaps some other story is told or a personal experience. How effective, in comparison to a direct communication, do you think this leader will be in conveying meaning? In influencing his people? How effective was the above story in conveying meaning? Influencing you?
Storytelling is an art. What do you think about this concept? Can you provide an example of how storytelling was used in your organization, or life, to effectively convey meaning? Did it work? Looking back in time, with storytelling as a frame of reference, have you used story to convey meaning to others and not consciously know it? Was it effective? I’d like to hear your thoughts.
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