Leadership storytelling

If you spend time with a leader, you’ll notice some interesting aspects of how he or she talks, In fact, what a leader does could more correctly be described as the creation of stories and wordscapes - landscapes made of words. Through the skilful, and often unconscious, use of words, tone of voice and body language, the leader will often hold an audience spellbound as a master storyteller would.

The storytelling aspects of leadership are vitally important. Most children's early and most profound learning experiences are based on stories. These were the stories that taught us all about the world around us. The stories told about us, especially if told by an authoritative figure, were vitally important in helping shape the people we are today.

Stories can be about the past, the present and the future. And it appears as though a compelling story, if related with the appropriate sense of drama and occasion, can have the effect of creating a reality. And a true leader will know this. The stories can be about very varied themes. For example:

• Where have we come from?
• Where are we going?
• What will we be like when we get there?
• What will we feel like when we get there?
• How have we changed?
• What makes us different?

These are the kinds of stories people never appear to tire of, especially if the stories are about them. The stories might have many different and varied characters. For example, African Mythology is teeming with animal spirits and archetypes such as baboon, snake, chameleon, tortoise, scorpion, leopard and lion. On closer examination, you will quickly see that we perceive that these creatures embody certain characteristics that are found in human beings. For example, in some cultures the baboon will embody cunning and intelligence. Jackals would display slyness, cowardliness and stealth. Baboon stories display elements of slyness and cunning.