In the fast-paced world of our busy working lives, it’s easy for managers to focus solely on metrics, deadlines, and deliverables. However, one of the most impactful ways to foster a thriving team environment is by encouraging personal connections and understanding among team members. One effective method I’ve recently implemented is sharing origin stories during staff meetings. Shout out to my amazing boss
Mike Gaal
for first introducing the exercise to me.
An origin story is a personal narrative that allows employees to share their background, experiences, and journey in a way that feels comfortable to them. This can include their professional path, personal milestones, challenges they’ve overcome, and anything else they feel defines who they are today. The level of openness and detail is entirely up to the individual, making it a flexible and inclusive activity.
Benefits of Sharing Origin Stories
- Building Trust and Empathy: When team members share their stories, it creates a space for vulnerability and authenticity. This can significantly enhance trust and empathy within the team, as colleagues gain a deeper understanding of each other’s backgrounds and perspectives.
- Enhancing Communication: Knowing more about each other’s journeys can improve communication. Team members are more likely to approach conversations with empathy and a willingness to understand, leading to more effective and meaningful interactions.
- Fostering Inclusivity: Origin stories celebrate diversity by highlighting the unique paths that each team member has taken. This can foster a more inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and understood.
- Boosting Morale and Engagement: Sharing personal stories can be a powerful motivator. It reminds team members of their strengths and achievements, boosting morale and engagement. It also helps them see the human side of their colleagues, making the workplace feel more supportive and connected.
How to Implement Origin Stories in Your Team
- Create a Safe Space: Ensure that the environment is supportive and non-judgmental. Emphasize that sharing is voluntary and that everyone’s story is valued.
- Lead by Example: As a manager, start by sharing your own origin story. This sets the tone and encourages others to open up.
- Be Respectful of Boundaries: Respect each individual’s comfort level with sharing. Not everyone will want to share deeply personal details, and that’s okay.
- Encourage Reflection: Give team members time to prepare their stories. Encourage them to reflect on their journey and what they feel comfortable sharing.
Question for the other leaders here in LinkedIn:
- Have you ever shared your origin story with your team? What was the experience like?
- What other methods have you found effective in building trust and connection within your team?
- Are there any challenges you foresee in implementing this practice? How might you overcome them?
Helping B2B technology companies SHOW AND SELL using Visual Storytelling tools and Strategic Information Design. Captivate. Connect. Convert.
5 个月Jay, thanks for sharing!
Engineering and Technology Leader | Entrepreneur | Flight Instructor
7 个月Thanks for sharing
Global AI Speaker, Leading $7 billion in AI/Cloud ISV growth, Co-founder, (A)ction (I)mperative, Microsoft Executive (former Deloitte/AWS Exec)
7 个月Love this idea and building trust. Also, as I have had a chance to get to know you and partner with you the last year, I appreciate you as a leader and peer. Keep sharing this great advice and I look forward to doing cool things together in the EC this year.
General Manager, Digital Natives, Americas
7 个月NICE POST JAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think the most critical part of this being successful - as you mention it in your article - is the leader modeling their own origin story and demonstrating vulnerability as an example to their team to 'break the ice' in this exercise. It not only makes the human connection stronger between the team and their leader, but it provides an example and sets the tone for how the team presents their stories to each other. I've heard some incredibly powerful and emotional stories in facilitating this exercise over the years, and its amazing how much stronger the trust and empathy for teams becomes when they feel safe in sharing deeply personal experiences that have shaped their lives - once they see their leader do the same and create an environment of safety. If the first origin story shared by their leader is high level and sterile, then its likely most will follow the same example and it won't be a productive use of time. If the leader is able to share in an authentic way, then the team will respond in kind - and this exercise helps us all understand who is behind the screen, or in the next desk over, and paints an amazing composition of life experiences that make interactions that much richer.
The origin story is a unique way to build connections. Can you share an example of an origins story? Maybe your origins?