Storytelling is all the rage these days in marketing and public speaking. Every week I see at least one blog post or video about the importance of the ‘story’.
This emphasis on storytelling reminds me of a conversation I had with an Iranian women I met at the 2009 SIOP annual conference in New Orleans. I told her I had read Persepolis, the autobiographical graphic novel about a girl’s experience coming of age during the Islamic revolution. That’s ‘everybody’s story‘ she replied when I mentioned some of the awful events described in the book.
At that very same conference, numerous people related to me conversations they were having with New Orleanians and their tales of Katrina such as being trapped on roofs, flooded homes, and family or friends who still hadn’t returned because of no place to stay. I realized that’s everybody’s story in New Orleans.
The people of the NE are struggling through their everybody’s story right now but I’m sure they’ll emerge from Sandy’s aftermath with a bond and a connection and a powerful sense of community because of it. Seems to be what happens when you are part of a big story.
And, it’s not only tough experiences that create stories and bring people to together. Ask anyone whose team has ever won a championship about that.
What is everybody’s story in your organization? Does it bind your people together giving them strength and purpose? Do your employees know that story?
What do you think?