Storytelling as Management Tool

I am not sure this is news. Nonetheless, I think it is valuable. Oh well, let's just say, if you have not heard, then it's news to you.

People enjoy hearing stories to make technical knowledge more palatable.

I know, I know. Your mind is blown. How do I do it? Such esoteric truths brought to light. You're welcome.

I am loathe to admit it, but I learned many of my lessons about being a good person from family centered T.V. sitcoms such as Family Ties, Growing Pains, and The Cosby Show.

When we hear a story, we align ourselves with the protagonist. The story helps to streamline information and provide a context by which we can understand the lesson. Following our hero through the story makes the lesson more memorable than just hearing the lesson.

Treat your employees fairly is a lesson. I could say it a thousand times, and managers would "get it" but may not truly understand the subtleties of the lesson.

If I tell a story about how a manager was unintentionally treating an employee unfairly, and it resulted in a lawsuit and the manager's dismissal, I bet it takes hold. A manager who has followed the path of innocence to downfall is more likely to apply the lesson when dealing with employees.

Treat your employees fairly is a relatively basic concept. Storytelling can also help to explain relatively complex concepts as well. Too often lessons get lost in translation. By breaking down concepts into manageable terms with context, employees are better able to digest the lessons.

Another benefit of storytelling is that humans tend to listen and to be more receptive to stories. Would you rather listen to a lesson or a story? Think about books like The One Minute Manager or A Fish Story or Who Moved my Cheese? - these books teach lessons through the power of stories. These are classics in management. You can read them in a few hours and walk away ready to improve your workplace. If you have not read any books of that nature, I encourage you to try one. They are low-cost (both monetarily and in terms of time).

I will note the peril of basing management decisions on books like those listed above. I recently read an article by Robert J. Grossman, a contributing editor of HR Magazine, regarding the gap between academic research and management practices. The article backed the benefits of storytelling, but acknowledged that it can be at the cost of missing out on substantial findings in the academic world. In the article Murray Dalziel, Director of the University of Liverpool Management School, is quoted as comparing these types of books to eating fast food. He said, "it's good to a degree, but too much can be deadly."

The counter argument presented in the article is that academia should take a lesson from these books and present their research by coming up with better stories.

Thus the point stands. These books are useful in that they are story-driven and thus more easily incorporated and remembered.

What is the take-away here?

Storytelling is a useful tool when leading your organization. You can use it to initiate action, communicate what your organization is about, transmit your brand, share knowledge or teach a lesson, transmit organizational values, or lead a team.