Coaching Tip No.11 - Winning Stories
21/11/08 16:33 Filed in: Coaching
Tips
"The
missing ingredient in most failed communications is
Humanity. This is an easy
fix."
Annette Simmons - Author of Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins
Last time I told the story of Bruce Cohen and how he communicated with a global operation, constantly sharing his vision and making it come to life with real examples of those that were demonstrating the company's values in action. Working with storytelling - more common nowadays in leadership coaching - this quote from Annette Simmons's book really stood out for me. Every one of Bruce's voicemails was a story with humanity.
Reading a whole book on storytelling may seem daunting at first but adopting storytelling actively can reap tremendous rewards. Annette Simmons has given me permission to reproduce a paragraph from her book to allow me to give you a practical coaching tip and hopefully engage you more in storytelling.
Annette Simmons - Author of Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins
Last time I told the story of Bruce Cohen and how he communicated with a global operation, constantly sharing his vision and making it come to life with real examples of those that were demonstrating the company's values in action. Working with storytelling - more common nowadays in leadership coaching - this quote from Annette Simmons's book really stood out for me. Every one of Bruce's voicemails was a story with humanity.
Reading a whole book on storytelling may seem daunting at first but adopting storytelling actively can reap tremendous rewards. Annette Simmons has given me permission to reproduce a paragraph from her book to allow me to give you a practical coaching tip and hopefully engage you more in storytelling.
Annette
describes six types of story that deserve our
attention:
She then demonstrates all of these stories in action by using the following paragraph:
"If we were to judge by the stories many people tell on a daily basis we would conclude they are stressed out, misunderstood victims (who I am) here to survive red tape and stupid decisions (why I am here). They pine for retirement or the firing of certain individuals (vision), and they believe that the 'haves' couldn't care less about the 'have-nots' (value in action). They unconsciously tell stories that ensure co-workers learn that no amount of effort is going to change things (teaching) because they've already tried and failed (I know what you are thinking)"
The exercise I recommend is to consider and write down what you think the current stories are in your team or stake holder community (if different to above!) by using this example paragraph, i.e fill in the blanks for yourself.
If we were to judge by the stories people involved tell on a daily basis we would conclude they are _____________
________________________________ (who I am) here to ____________________________________ (why I am here).
They pine for/want _____________________________ (vision), and they believe _____________________ (value in action).
They unconsciously tell stories that _________________ (teaching) because ___________________________ (I know what you are thinking)
Now take some time - you may have to come back to this - and change that story to the one you want to exist.
If we were to judge by the stories people involved tell on a daily basis we would conclude they are _____________
________________________________ (who I am) here to ____________________________________ (why I am here).
They pine for/want _____________________________ (vision), and they believe _____________________ (value in action).
They unconsciously tell stories that _________________ (teaching) because ___________________________ (I know what you are thinking)
What needs to happen to make these new stories a reality? That's where the real work begins but storytelling can help you get there.
Like most coaching, this is an awareness raising exercise. The question I would leave you with is this: "What stories are you telling yourself - and are there better stories for you to have?"
- Who I am
- Why I am here
- Teaching
- Vision
- Value in action
- I know what you are thinking
She then demonstrates all of these stories in action by using the following paragraph:
"If we were to judge by the stories many people tell on a daily basis we would conclude they are stressed out, misunderstood victims (who I am) here to survive red tape and stupid decisions (why I am here). They pine for retirement or the firing of certain individuals (vision), and they believe that the 'haves' couldn't care less about the 'have-nots' (value in action). They unconsciously tell stories that ensure co-workers learn that no amount of effort is going to change things (teaching) because they've already tried and failed (I know what you are thinking)"
The exercise I recommend is to consider and write down what you think the current stories are in your team or stake holder community (if different to above!) by using this example paragraph, i.e fill in the blanks for yourself.
If we were to judge by the stories people involved tell on a daily basis we would conclude they are _____________
________________________________ (who I am) here to ____________________________________ (why I am here).
They pine for/want _____________________________ (vision), and they believe _____________________ (value in action).
They unconsciously tell stories that _________________ (teaching) because ___________________________ (I know what you are thinking)
Now take some time - you may have to come back to this - and change that story to the one you want to exist.
If we were to judge by the stories people involved tell on a daily basis we would conclude they are _____________
________________________________ (who I am) here to ____________________________________ (why I am here).
They pine for/want _____________________________ (vision), and they believe _____________________ (value in action).
They unconsciously tell stories that _________________ (teaching) because ___________________________ (I know what you are thinking)
What needs to happen to make these new stories a reality? That's where the real work begins but storytelling can help you get there.
Like most coaching, this is an awareness raising exercise. The question I would leave you with is this: "What stories are you telling yourself - and are there better stories for you to have?"