When time allows, I enjoy a good book and a good game. I’ve found that whether it be a science fiction story, a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, or a well-written video game, I both love and understand the power of a well-crafted narrative. And our work as leaders benefits from our use of story as well. What do I mean by that? Here are three ways to tackle a tale and make it work to your advantage as a leader.
Be authentic
It’s easiest to tell a story when you are being real. We all have important details to share with those around us. And, our stories are most powerful when we are being authentic. An authentic story captures not only what has really happened, but also what we have learned from it. And, the more authentic, the more people can relate our experiences to their own. I recently shared some parenting lessons learned with a colleague. I put it all out there, sharing what I thought I did well as a parent, and clearly where I had made some mistakes. My colleague shared some experiences of their own, and I took away lessons to embed in my own work as a father. The value of this? My colleague and I were engaged in real conversation about real topics. That authenticity also helped build a connection and showed us that, while we are colleagues, we are also humans. Real stories go a long way towards building real connections. And, from a leadership standpoint, nothing is as beneficial as connecting with others to help get good work done.
Recognize that a story is never truly complete
Whenever we share our experiences, we are sharing those experiences at a certain point in time. A story is never fully told, and the ending is never fully known. Our stories are based on what has happened to us at a given moment, and as such, we have to recognize that things can change at any time. A narrative is only as true as when it exists, and therefore, we have to be willing to grow with our stories and not assume they are ever truly done or ever truly told. For example, as my role in my organization has grown, I have learned more about what I can and cannot accomplish. Some of the tasks I thought would be easy have proven to be more challenging. And some of those tasks that seemed easy have become significantly more difficult. It isn’t that I was wrong in interpreting the ease of these aspects of my work. Instead, it is simply that my understanding of my own story in my current role wasn’t complete enough to know what could or couldn’t happen easily. And, when it comes to telling our own story, we need to recognize that it is a tale that is never fully told.
Welcome spin-offs and sequels
In the world of books, television shows, movies, and games, spin-offs and sequels allow stories to continue and explore aspects of the narrative that would not have been possible before. By welcoming spin-offs and sequels, we allow stories to extend beyond what we can tell ourselves. This is important from a leadership perspective as our work is never simply about our story alone. By incorporating the thinking and experiences of others, we create a more compelling and authentic story. In designing a series of workshops focused on New York State graduation requirements, we decided to engage multiple educators as workshop facilitators. This made our work feel more real to the educators in the room and allowed us to strengthen our facilitation and overall leadership. The more spin-offs and sequels we build, the more all-encompassing the work becomes.
Our work as leaders is all based on story. What we tell, what we don’t, and what others interpret all impact our effectiveness in leading good work. Being authentic, recognizing stories are never fully told, and welcoming sequels and spin-offs allow a narrative to grow, be real and be continuous, all of which are important aspects of growth and change in our profession. What story will you tell?
Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.
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