Tell to win and win and win:
A cautionary tale and a traffic light system for business story tellers…
Management Today magazine proudly present a one-day event:
Storytelling has taken off
The storytelling movement in business has really taken off. Hundreds of tertiary educational institutions offer programmes with story modules, a growing number of books on the subject are being published, many more businesses want to use story in their internal and external communications. This is good news. After all, our cultures and psyches have built-in mechanisms to relate to stories. Stories are natural. We find meaning in stories, and they fulfil many functions. As Clarissa Pinkola Estes points out: “Most are not used as simple entertainment….(but) used in many different ways; to teach, correct errors, lighten, assist transformation, heal wounds, re-create memory.”
But a lot of the focus is on telling to win
The emphasis is on: • the creation of an organisation’s story for purposes of conveying its history and values in a way that appeals to, and forges an emotional connection with potential recruits, potential clients and other stakeholders - whether or not the espoused values are true • teaching leaders to tell stories that convince and persuade followers • teaching employees to use story in order to sell a concept, product or service
A recent book for example has the give-away title ‘Tell to Win’, and is
endorsed by none other than ex-President Bill Clinton as follows: “…masterfully demonstrates that telling purposeful stories is the
best way to persuade, motivate, and convince who you want to do what you need.”
On a much larger scale, ‘astrosurfing’ (which takes propaganda
to another level) is an attempt to promote self-interest and orchestrate opinion by attributing the views of a few to a many. The intent is to manipulate, deceive, ‘imitate’ grassroots’ opinion. The term derives from Astro Turf - synthetic carpeting. Dave Snowden: “A lot of storytelling practitioners are so wrapped up in the work they do that they believe story is inherently good and fail to realise that it’s the core of propaganda and manipulation of ideas. we see the pattern at a nation-state level and in companies where orthodoxy starts to create a pattern into which everyone has to fit, a dangerous change to attitudes and ideation from where tyranny will always develop.” 1
As with so many things, intention influences the way we use them – to build up or diminish, to create or destroy. A storytelling – to - win focus carries some potential for misuse - to manipulate others into doing what you want, telling in order to serve self. In short, used in only this way they become tools for the Machiavellian, narcissistic, even sociopathic. (a noose)
ADVANCED CORPORATE NARRATIVE WORKSHOP
For CEOs, Marketing Directors, HR Directors, and all who want to grow themself through the power of stories.
This experiential workshop run by Dorian Haarhoff and Graham Williams, covers the psychology and pattern of narrative, sense- making, forging emotional connection to the brand, narrative competencies, anecdote circles and appreciative inquiry, developing emotional and social intelligence, mindfulness and imagination within the organisation, and more…
Delegates will receive a free membership of The Halo and the Noose web resource, recent copies of Management Today, and get to work on a diagnostic to determine the strength of their organisation’s current competencies and application of narrative.
In the evening we enjoy a braai around the traditional African boma and listen to Herman Charles Bosman stories.
The following day there is the option of a free half-hour individual consultation regarding possible solutions for your specific needs.
Dorian Haarhoff and Graham Williams use proven approaches and methodologies to harness the power of anecdote, narrative and metaphor in organisations.
For more information:
www.haloandnoose.com Cost:
R2,750-00 plus VAT
(includes an 8% discount for MT readers) Date:
Monday 11th June, 2012 Venue: Eagle’s Nest Estate, Johannesburg Registration:
Events@management-today.co.za or call 079 296 6375 for more information Book now to take advantage of this unique event
May 2012 | Halo and Noose 15
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