THE POWER OF NARRATIVES

As humans, we’ve been telling stories forever. They not only explain the past and teach us about the present, but they also fuel us to imagine what the future could look like. Just as historian Yuval Noah Harari beautifully describes in his book #Sapiens: “Humans are special because they inhabit an imagined world, created from their own ideas which they take as real." It is this very ability of ours to communicate our feelings, thoughts and knowledge through storytelling that continues to play such an important part in our evolution and success as human beings.

Just as stories inspire us in our everyday lives, organizational narratives are a powerful tool to inspire and engage teams; sharing the stories behind each decision can support in bringing people together and feeling part of a business’ journey. Context is crucial during times of change, especially when a widespread sense of belonging can support an organization to remain on course for a successful future. Here are some of the reasons why business narratives are incredibly powerful in uniting people:

It’s About the People

People are the most important character in effective business narratives. Putting people front and center connects individuals directly with changes taking place, with each other and with an organization itself. Through facts and emotion, stories have the potential to reach hearts and minds towards common goals. They can inspire individuals to become change agents themselves, becoming important catalysts for transformation. By going beyond numbers and delving into the ‘human’ side of a decision, individuals and teams can feel a deeper, empathetic connection towards change. The feeling of shared responsibility can lead to creativity and innovative ideas, which are needed more than ever in today’s fast-moving, competitive world.

Move Together

Effective organizational narratives can clearly convey the meaning behind a strategy, rather than simply stating tactical steps. Narratives that include the what, why and how can provide clear reasoning to build trust in an organization’s path and in its leaders. Sharing informational context leads to a deeper understanding of the changes, challenges, complexities and overall meaning at the heart of an organization’s culture. This ultimately brings people together and inspires individuals to dream big, keeping everyone energized and moving in the same direction.?

Ownership and Passion

Once a narrative clarifies roles and responsibilities, teams and individuals are trusted to make their own decisions. Ultimately, the business narrative can provide a frame from which everyone can operate, setting out a clear path and empowering individuals to make decisions. This frame provides deeper details than generic statements and can come through for a better and faster decision-making process. While leaders have the responsibility of driving a collective sense of ownership, by delegating authority, teams can unleash creativity and trust. Empowered teams are typically more engaged and learn to make informed decisions from an early stage – delivering a more efficient outcome and a happier and trustful work environment.

Sometimes, a business narrative can also create additional burdens and stress – it’s imperative to take time for implementation, while sharing context and information. They should always be shared openly and with transparency –with leadership teams but also across the entire organization. The true power of business narratives lies in bringing them to life. It is crucial that leaders keep an open mind and act as role models, by actively living the decisions and strategies, offering information and supporting teams into taking full ownership. By empowering with purpose, teams can feel a true sense of ownership, where making decisions and being accountable can be an inspiration to keep achieving, innovating and thinking BIG.