Storytelling - the next chapter

I created my first change story in 2001 to demonstrate how work and careers could develop to better reflect the needs of businesses and their people. This was a call for greater flexibility all round. The story began as a brown paper montage to increase its impact.  A colleague and I used magazine and newspaper cuttings to illustrate our Resourcing strategy.  For us traditional business reporting simply wasn’t impactful enough to engage and communicate our change imperatives.

A few raised eyebrows (and asides) later our collage was applauded although our recommendations were required in the Boardroom.  The frieze was great but not an end in itself.  It needed explanation and had become quite unwieldy.  I began my first ever corporate story about a journey into the future which offered opportunities to experience new ways of working first-hand.  A few weeks (and RSC style coaching) later and I was on stage (sponsored by the Board) delivering excerpts from my story at regional conferences.

“We’d like to take you on a journey to a place not far from here.  It’s a place where the imagery is larger than life, any time difference is insignificant and the climate is one that encourages success – both in business and life generally.  It’s a place with a strong identity:  a place where people feel inspired and alive.  It’s a successful place and we want you to experience that success for yourself: to see it and to feel it”.

These communications and visioning techniques have never been far from my transformation toolkit and many of the concepts which resonated in 2001 remain (although we’re more likely to talk about agile working in 2019). People still want to hear about opportunities and how they’ll be valued, rewarded and encouraged before they make employment decisions.  They want to experience what matters to you and they want to feel that they can be themselves.

Cue – your story.  Let’s get creative.