A great tool for the 21st Century Leader is actually an ancient art – Storytelling.
While I could go on and on about tactics, and ‘how to’ in those tactics, it is most profitable here to touch on why Story is so important in your Leadership.
Engaging in a story, and more specifically in your own open and honest story as it relates to a
particular issue, allows people to see the real you. People can see, and better understand, your desire and intent in light of your observable behaviors.
This alignment is a critical component in leading others to find, see and clearly understand their own motivation in light of the particular issue. Making story personal gives the story and the current situation meaning and relevance beyond a simple, easy way out, command and control response.
I couldn’t agree more on the power of telling the right story for both impact and a way of communicating a complex message. A good storyteller though knows his/her audience and adjusts the storyline so the audience can relate.