Corporate Storytelling – Three Things You Must Know
Storytelling in your organization is taking place every day regardless of its official status as a "program." However, you will find that with focused training and implementation, storytelling will raise the bottom line of any company. Before you begin adding the power of narrative to your workplace, there are a few things you need to know.
1. Storytelling in Corporations Requires Time to Grow
For many years, I was involved in a variety of companies that jumped from one fad management idea to another. First, we were Moving Cheese. Then, we were tossing stuffed Fish around the room. And we were doing it all in just One Minute. While some of the ideas of these management romps may have been momentarily implemented at my workplaces or yours, it seems that most of these programs have moved on.
Corporate Storytelling is not a fad. Everyone person who has contact with your company has a story to tell about that contact, both the good and the bad. Storytelling has been around since the beginning of time and the first moments of oral communication. It will work for your company if you are willing to think about long-term implementation of storytelling to your corporate communications. For best results, the power of story needs to be understood as a tool for all departments in your organization, not just sales and marketing.
I suggest that when your company does want to invest in storytelling for their internal and external customers, they begin with a small and dedicated group of employees who are first taught the art and science of storytelling. Our "Executive Speaker Training" Workshop is a great place to get this initial training for your employees who already have a basic background in public speaking.
2. Storytelling in a Business Must Come from the Top
One of the people on this initial team should be a member of senior management. I have worked with companies who originally conceived the idea of storytelling in one department and then set out to find a great trainer. They assured me that the "bosses" were in line with this new program. Then, as the training sessions started, the folks with their arms crossed at the back of the room or otherwise practising "active non-listening" were the senior management staff. You cannot expect that the average company employee will adopt a program that the leadership will not embrace.
3. You Must Integrate Storytelling, not Just Talk About It
Your new storytelling must be practised at every business gathering, from the smallest meetings to company-wide events. Be sure that your training sessions include plenty of time for practising storytelling instead of presentations all on theory.
When you are developing this program, be sure to look for trainers and presenters who have extensive experience in actually telling stories. Does your trainer actually know how to tell (not write) stories? Did they just recently begin to add storytelling to their work or do they have a lifetime of expertise?
Learning to share the company stories is financially and personally rewarding. Please take some time to learn this fundamental communication skill for your workplace.
For more information about Sean's workshop that teaches you to harness the power of business or corporate storytelling, please visit our website at http://www.executivespeakertraining.com You are also invited to follow Sean via his Twitter account at http://www.twitter.com/storyteller today.
