The Power of Story

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2010


Story: Where  Possibility  Resides

"Be so good they can't ignore you."  - Jerry Dunn


Storytelling is one of leadership's best kept secrets.

Peter Block says:

"Storytelling plays a noble and historic role in our lives and in society. 
Stories can give us a narrative to guide and instruct us. 
They are crucial to knowing who we are.  They provide a sense of identity. 
Some stories, however, become the limitation to creating anything new. 
We need to distinguish between the stories that give meaning to our lives and
help us find our voice,
and those that limit our possibility.

The stories that are useful and fulfilling are the ones tha are metaphors, signposts, parables and inspiration for the fullest expression of our humanity. 
They are communal teaching stories."

Stories are not "right" or "wrong". 
They are not fact - each of us has our own interpretation
because we tell the story through our own lens.

In "Systems Thinking", story telling becomes one of the factors in understanding problems, issues and potential solutions. 
 Each of the "characters" talks about what is happening from "the place in which they (uniquely)  stand".  The story unfolds as  assumptions emerge, and hypotheses are disclosed. 
These theories are logically consistent - but not linear. 
When combined, they are a series of thoughts from many vantage points and recurring patterns.  They are the foundations of possibility.

This story-telling process is also known as "model building",
a powerful learning tool - especially for teams. 

As Peter Senge says:
At the heart of the art of (...systems thinking)
storytelling is one question:

How did we (through our internal thinking, our processes, our practices and our procedures) contribute to or create the circumstances (good or bad) that we face now?

Leaders: 
Listen for the stories. 
Talk story. 
Ask questions to understand the thoughts, assumptions, mental models and systems at play in the circumstance.
Do not just solve the problem...

Hmmmmm....

See you Thursday afternoon!
Maggie

Story of Leadership

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009

"Leadership is all about the actions of the "tribe". For centuries, people have been gathering under the light of the moon, to tell their stories. This simple way of hanging out, creates community, a sense of belonging, a forward motion in life. Leaders who pay attention to the role of "their tribe's stories", are the ones who stimulate commitment. Isn't that what the water cooler theory is all about?"

LTB: We Tell the Story

Part 1: All about you

For centuries, a full moon has been the inspiration for gathering around to tell each other stories. That’s how tribal legends have begun, how we learn about the wisdom of our elders, how communities and organizations are born.

Our focus this month is on lifelong learning. Perhaps you’ve noticed the tie-in of this key leadership skill to “story telling”. Stories create a context for learning and discovery. They stimulate forward motion.

Leaders who can explain what is happening in their organizations with passion, interest and a crisp learning point, are the ones who shape lifelong learning in their organizations. Leaders who speak with emotion are the connectors.

Your Community Action Project story on Thursday – your 15 minutes of fame – can be whatever your group decides it to be. Just tell it with passion. Tell it like it is. Put life into it. Help the rest of us understand what you are learning, discussing or perhaps not clear about. What’s causing confusion, frustration? What are the community connections and assets really about?

Remember, you’re telling a story, not giving a report.



Stories have an emotional base first, and the facts become the proof.

Here are some phrases to help you tell a powerful story:

1. A Stand: “The future I stand for is…”
2. Defining Moments: “An event that made me see this as an important mission for me is…”
3. Bold Goal: “I am committed to having _____ in place by ____”
4. Painting the Future: “An exciting example of what I’m thinking is…”
5. Sticky messages: “I want to tell you the story of Allie, my daughter who died last year waiting for her lung transplant…”
6. “Heroes and Heroines: “Let me tell you about a person who you should talk to and work with…”
Source: Leaderspeak: Georgia Health Policy Centre. Karen Minyard PhD Director. 2008


Note: See last week’s blog for Doug Stevenson’s story telling tips.


Part 2

Speaking of Reports: All about excellence

To celebrate its first 5 years, Leadership Thunder Bay decided to tell its story in print. Packaged in a polished blue and green booklet and written with panache, LTB’s story is now more than a souvenir for those of us who have been involved through its birth and growth.

Did you know that this leadership story is an award winner?

MEDIA RELEASE
5-Year Report to Community Wins International Award

Leadership Thunder Bay is proud to announce that its 5 –Year Report to
the Community received a 2008 Gold MarCom Award.

The MarCom Awards is an international competition for marketing and communication professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of marketing and communication programs and print, visual and audio materials. Entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers.

The Gold Award was presented to the City of Thunder Bay under the Pro Bono category for the work done by Karen Lewis and Valerie Marasco, Past Communications Committee Co-Chairs, along with support by Clara Butikofer, former Managing Director, and Korkola Design for the graphic design work in creating the 5-Year Report to the Community.

MarCom Awards is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. The international organization consists of several thousand marketing, communication, advertising, public relations, media production and free-lance professionals. The Association, based in Arlington, Texas, oversees awards and recognition programs, provides judges and sets standards for excellence.

Judges are industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry. There were over 5,000 entries from throughout the United States, Canada and several countries around the world in the MarCom Awards 2008 competition. Winners were selected from over 200
categories in seven forms of media and communication efforts- marketing, publications, marketing/promotion, public service/pro bono, creativity and electronic/interactive.

The competition has grown to perhaps the largest of its kind in the world. A look at the winners shows a range in size from individual communicators to media conglomerates and Fortune 500 companies. The competition is so well thought of in the industry that national public relations organizations, local ad clubs, and local business communicator chapters are entrants.
For more information visit www.marcomawards.com


WOW!

If you look closely at the 5 year report, you’ll notice that it is a “whole brain document”. Strategically speaking, it’s a way to leverage the future by reporting on the past.

“Strategic leadership” – says Sir John Hoskyns (in Chapter 19 of The Whole Brain Business Book – reminder that this is part of your readings this month!) … requires the readiness to look personally foolish; a readiness to discuss half-baked ideas, since most fully baked ideas start out in that form; a total honesty; a readiness to admit you got it wrong.” Stories are strategic.

All You Have to Do is…Ask

Finally – to be an award winner takes more than one point of view, as Karen and Valerie well know. Leaders are confident in asking for input or help – so if you need me, all you have to do is call.

See you for Brad’s – and your – stories on Thursday!

- Maggie

HIDDEN TREASURES

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2008

Hidden Treasures in Our Community
Sometimes we have to revisit places, people...to see the familiar with new eyes.

The magical mystical bus tour was a great way to wind up the 2008 portion of your Leadership Journey. We’ve introduced a number of leadership theories, but listening to all of our guest presenters in action was really exciting. Reading is an important base (see xowhat post #1), but learning from the experiences of others really drives the point home.

Our December Community Learning Day was based on discovering Community Assets and how “Connectors” – leaders who have the capability and capacity – to link assets can make the impossible become possible.

1. Your Mission for January’s CAP Presentations
Telling The Story

When a leader tells a story, there’s an impact on the listener. Wouldn’t you agree that the stories we heard about the Boys and Girls Club, the historical perspectives of the LPH and its patients, and the design of Magnus Theatre to accommodate a variety of actors and audiences, are memorable? How about boys and girls flying to the north pole on Bearskin Airlines?

Some of you mentioned that you’d have a hard time deciding who to volunteer with, based on the narratives you heard during the day.

Organizations aren’t just about the facts; it’s feelings (and the proof from the factual base) that attract new volunteers, donations and interest in what’s happening.

It’s Time to Tell

In preparation for January, this “asset connector” role is being passed onto you. Each of our five CAP groups will have 15 minutes during the afternoon to “Tell Our Story”.

Working as a CAP team, what’s the “story” of the organization you are supporting? Make the story your presentation.

You might consider these questions – and add your own:

- What are the assets that play a major role in this organization?
- What effect does “marginalization” have on the organization?
- What are the missing assets and links?
- Which questions have not been asked?
- What could your CAP project initiate to change the momentum of the organization?
- What are the lessons for Thunder Bay as a community and you as leaders?

To guide you in developing your story, go to 7 Stories – The Most Important Stuff - about communities and the asset model we discussed.
Download “Hidden Treasures” (92 pages) here:

http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/images/hiddentreasures.pdf

Source: ABCD Institute at http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/abcd/

John McKnight’s Community Asset Model, which was the basis for the Community Learning Day in December can be referenced here: http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/images/kelloggabcd.pdf
(page 15)

AND: if you need help with your story, I’ll be around during the holidays. Just ask!


2. Dr. Brad McRae

Your Key Leadership Skill for January is “LIFELONG LEARNING”. This will be one of Dr. Brad’s messages for the morning of January 15.

What else would you like to have on the agenda? Please let us know asap: YOUR input drives the curriculum.

Strategy 3 is being sent to you by email this week. Brad is waiting for an interview with Phil Fontaine, but we might have to proceed without it. Please read… and be ready to have a good chat with the author.


3. Media!

Congratulations to all of you for stepping up to the plate for the media interviews. We had excellent coverage, and your nervousness gave you energy. Some of you were pushed gently out of the nest…and you flew! Well done!

4. Follow Ups...

Local faces talk about their experiences with mental illness, recommended by Brooke Latimer at St. Joseph's Care Group. Go here: http://www.withanopenmind.com/

Take a drive to Chippewa Park. Snow day version of the tour here: http://www.chippewapark.ca

Santa Might Say: Hey Boys and Girls here: http://www.tbayboysandgirlsclub.org/

See the Show! http://www.magnus.on.ca/

Business supports charities example:
www.bearskinairlineshopeclassic.com



And that’s it for 2008. Next week’s blog post will be short, snowy and sweet.

All the best – hush, don’t rush as we approach the holiday season,




Maggie