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| What's Your Story? | | Date Created: Jan 06, 2005, 10:21 PM |
I came across a fascinating article in the current special issue of Harvard Business Review (Managing Yourself) called "What's Your Story" by Herminia Ibarra and Kent Lineback. The authors talk about the importance of using a coherent life story as a guide and personal selling tool as one goes through a career transition. Below is my summary and some extracts from the article. I suggest you read the full article if you are, like I, going through the half-time of life.
Why you need a story
All of us tell stories about ourselves. Stories define us. to know someone well is to know her story -- the experiences that have shaped her, the trials and turning points that have tested her. When we want someone to know us, we share stories of our childhoods, our families, our school years, our first loves, the development of our political views, and so on.
Seldom is a good story so needed, though, as when a major change of professional direction is under way --- when we are leaving A without yet having left it and moving toward B without yet having gotten there. In a time of unsettling transition, telling a compelling story to coworkers, bosses, friends, or family -- or strangers in a conference room --- inspires belief in our motives, character, and capacity to reach the goals we've set.
By "story", we don't mean "something made up to make a bad situation look good." Rather, we're talking about accounts that are deeply true and so engaging that listeners feel they have a stake in our success. Creating and telling a story that resonates also helps us believe in ourselves. Most of us experience the transition to a new working life as a time of confusion, loss, insecurity and uncertainty. We oscillate between holding on to the past and embracing our future. Without a compelling story that lends meaning, unity and purpose to our lives, we feel lost and rudderless.
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