Storytelling as a Manager Coaching Technique LO9582

Dale Emery (72704.1550@CompuServe.COM)
29 Aug 96 01:32:49 EDT

Replying to LO9551 --

Paul,

You wrote, "This reminded me about the many myths and legends which are
perpetuated within (and are about) my organisation and which are part of the
paradigm/culture. I realise how many of these as are taken as "fact". How they
are repeated as if the teller had personal knowledge of their veracity. How they
are embelished over time and, if I'm honest, how I am complicit in leaving them
untouched when they suit my purpose. In a LO context I now wonder how many of
these stories will need to be unpicked, challenged, exposed and/or retained if
we are to progress."

A friend recently told me of a legend where he worked, a company of about 30
people who develop software. Every now and then at lunch, someone would remark
about how "nobody has ever resigned" from the company. One time my friend
decided to challenge that. He said, "What about Bill, and Sally, and Fred?"
Those people had all resigned within the previous two years. Everyone at the
table got quiet, then someone changed the subject. My friend said people
continued to recount the legend after that, though not as often in his presence.

A month ago, my friend resigned. I wonder what will happen to the legend!

The "truth" of the legend wasn't in the facts, but in some cultural meaning
implicit in the telling. I find that fascinating.

Even when a legend is based in facts, it may be that the telling is more
important than the story itself. People are telling *this* story, among all of
the stories they could choose to tell, or when they could choose not to tell any
story at all.

Dale

--

Dale H. Emery | 27 Tall Pine Road Consultant | Berwick, ME 03901 Relationship and Communication | (207) 698-1650 For Successful Organizations | 72704.1550@compuserve.com

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