StoryQuest Blog

Telling stories, the concept is as old as mankind itself. Since the dawn of time people would sit together and share their personal challenges, their achievements and even  their most devastating failures. This ancient art has more recently transcended from the campfire to the boardroom.

Companies today do not always refer to this concept as “storytelling” but as “leader-led development.” Whatever name you slap on it, people are sharing their knowledge of their business by sharing what has happened to them in their professional life.

In the USA Today Article, “The Indian Art of Storytelling Seeps into the Boardroom” Del Jones talks to Native American’s about how their ancient art is being translated.

“Companies think they invented knowledge management, but it’s something Indians have known for thousands of years,” says Linda Mankiller, ex-chief of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma.

“…the best leaders pass down personal legends to instill values,” says Dave Anderson, founder of Famous Dave’s restaurants and member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Lake Superior Band of Ojibwa. “People might not remember what’s in the employee handbook”, Anderson says, “but everyone who hears a story knows how important quality is to the company.”

Doug Ready, president of the International Consortium for Executive Development Research agrees that storytelling surpasses technology in transfer knowledge. Read has studied 45 different companies and how they use storytelling as a learning tool.

Ready thinks if this concept is done right these stories “are so powerful you can hear a pin drop.” He believes that these stories must be delivered one-to-one in a small group and must make a point, reveal personal tales of success—or, better yet, failure…”

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