Storytelling for Leaders: Improving Your Effectiveness and Connection to your Team

1. Storytelling for Leaders: Improving Your Effectiveness and Connection to your Team Institute for Supply ManagementLeadership Training February 16, 2016

2. Making this Useful • What do you want out of this? • What’s been your biggest challenge in stepping into leadership? In leading a team? • What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started?

3. Why Storytelling? • The story is one of the basic tools invented by the human mind for the purpose of gaining understanding. • There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories. • Why?

4. Leadership & Storytelling • Storytelling gets inside the minds, hearts and emotions of individuals • Stories can re-affirm one’s role in an organization, it can open one up to the possibilities of change, it can introduce a new member to an organization • A story has to resonate, be embodied and offer promise of something valued

5. The Pervasiveness of Narrative in The Human Experience “A story that matters to us … becomes a bundle in which we wrap truth, hope and dread. Stories are how we explain, how we teach, how we entertain ourselves, and how we often do all three at once. They are the juncture where facts and feelings meet.” - Robert Fulford

6. Human Beings = Natural Storytellers “There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories.” - Ursula K. Le Guin

7. What Makes Good Stories • Everyone has story … a gift is to help them see it • Turning Points are key to good stories (a change in life direction, values, world view, career, or beliefs). • Storytelling is about presence, not performance • Bring the audience into the story

8. How Do We Use Stories in Our Work?

9. Narrative Forms Noel Tichy proposed three types of stories for leaders: - Who I Am - Future - Who We Are

10. “Who I Am” Stories • These are origin stories, or accounts of the values and core beliefs in your life and how they were developed. • They offer narratives of experiences that have shaped your approach to life. When to Use: • To introduce yourself to another person, a group, co-workers • During job interviews • To inspire someone who is dealing with a challenge you have faced. Examples of “Who I Am” Stories: • Autobiographies by Jack Welch , Lance Armstrong and virtually every autobiography

11. Everyone Has a Story,And Everyone is a Storyteller “The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.” - Benjamin Disraeli • The power of reframing—strengthens focus • What’s your story? • What is one thing you are most proud of? • I will always remember the time when … • What story captures you at your best?

12. “My Leadership Timeline” As you look at this timeline consider the many factors that have shaped you and influence you as an individual. Consider such things as: joys and pains, mentors or influencers, experiences both positive and negative that in some way contribute to you becoming who you are. On the timeline mark the dates, as best you can remember, when these influential times have occurred for you. Next to the dates use a symbol or a couple of words to remind you of those experiences. + (Events that you consider positive) My Birth Date February, 2016 \___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________/ - (Events that you consider negative or difficult)

13. “Future Stories” or “Imagine if …” • Stories that offer a vivid and compelling picture of a future state • Vision stories of a desired future When to Use: • To inspire a group to accept a new vision • To help individuals let go of the past and look to the future • To help a group accept change and loss as an inevitable step towards the future • To enable a community to understand your hope for the future Examples of “Future” Stories: • Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech • President Kennedy’s challenge to put an astronaut into outer space

14. “Who We Are” Stories • Stories of experiences and events that are shared by a group and have shaped their thinking and values • Stories of an organization or team that explain its culture and beliefs When to Use: • As a way to socialize new employees into the organization or members onto a board • As a means of informing others about your organization—for marketing or recruiting • To inspire your organization or team to overcome a challenge by reminding them of previous successes Examples of “Who We Are” Stories: • Businesses: Nike’s “Just Do It!” “The HP Way” The Nordstrom approach • Communities: New York after 9/11; Washington State after Mt. St. Helens

15. “Who We Are” Story Prompts • One thing I will say about us is that… • What I will always remember about us is… • When we are at our best we are like… • A title for a book about us should be…

16. What is Your “We” Story?

17. Starbucks: 1974-1979

18. Starbucks: 1997 to …

19. Examples of “We” Stories • Spokane Fire Department • Family stories • Couple stories • Work team stories • Shackleton’s Endurance Expedition

20. Why Shackleton? • Was there anything inspirational about this story? • What lessons did you take from the story? • What surprised you about the story? • Where were you in this story?

21. Shackleton’s Endurance Story

22. Ad that appeared in London papers in 1913 for the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition “Men wanted for Hazardous Journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success.”

23. Shackleton, Who? • He is buried on an obscure island—South Georgia, near Antarctica—having died at the age of 47—far from his family. • He died of a heat attack, in debt, dispirited. • His name has gone relatively unnoticed for over 80 years.

24. Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition • The Ship • The Setting • The Man Ship departs Dec. 6, 1914 Sir Ernest Shackleton The Endurance The Weddell Sea All photos used by permission of the Scott Polar Research Institute

25. Shackleton: A Leader for Our Times “Thus, while Shackleton was undeniably out of place, even inept, in a great many everyday situations, he had a talent-genuine leadership. He was, as one of his men put it, ‘the greatest leader that ever came on God’s earth, bar none.’ For all his blind spots and inadequacies, Shackleton merited this tribute: ‘For scientific leadership give me Scott; for swift and efficient travel, Amundsen; but when you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems no way out, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton.’” - Worsley

26. Frozen in the Weddell Sea Frozen solid in the ice pack January 19, 1915

27. Frozen: January, 1915-October, 1915 “Shackleton had a genius – it was neither more nor less than that – for keeping those about him in high spirits. We loved him. To me, he was a brother. The men had felt the cost it is true; but he had inspirited the kind of loyalty which prevented them from allowing themselves to get depressed over anything, and they had stood up to the hardships inseparable from Antarctic exploration without a murmur. But they always had plenty to distract their minds, and keep them diverted. Every evening we fixed up some sort of entertainment.” - Worsley

28. Adrift in the Weddell Sea

29. The end of the Endurance “Then came a fateful day – Wednesday, October 27. The temperature was – 8.5° Fahr. After long months of ceaseless anxiety and strain…the end of the Endurance has come. But though we have been compelled to abandon the ship, we are alive and well and we have stores and equipment for the task that lies before us. The task is to reach land with all members of the Expedition. It is hard to write what I feel.” - Shackleton

30. Shackleton: “…on their way.” “Yet I feel sure it is the right thing to attempt a march since if we can make five to seven miles a day to the northwest, our chance of reaching safety in the months to come will be greatly increased. There is a psychological aspect to the question also. It will be much better for the men in general to feel that, even though progress is slow, they are on their way to land, than it would be simply to sit down and wait for the tardy northwest drift to take us out of the cruel waste of ice. We will make an attempt to move. The issue is beyond my power either to predict or to control.” - Shackleton

31. The Timeline: November, 1915-May, 1916 • NOVEMBER 21, 1915. "She's going, boys!" The Endurance sinks. • DECEMBER-January, 1915. After a failed attempt to march across the ice to the safety of land, Shackleton establishes "Patience Camp“ on the ice floes. • APRIL 9, 1916. The three whaling boats are launched. • APRIL 15, 1916. The three boats land on Elephant Island, a remote uninhabited island far from shipping lanes. This is the first time that the men have stood on solid ground in 497 • APRIL 24, 1916. Shackleton decides to sail the James Cairdback to South Georgia to get help—800 miles over treacherous seas. • MAY 10, 1916. After a treacheroustwo week journey, the James Cairdlands on the south coast of South Georgia. • MAY 20, 1916. Sir Ernest, Worsley and Crean arrive at Stromness, on the north coast of South Georgia.

32. April 7, 1916: Floating On Ice “There were 28 men on our floating cake of ice which was steadily dwindling under the influence of wind, weather, charging floes, and heavy swell. I confess that I felt the burden of responsibility sit heavily on my shoulders. But on the other hand, I was stimulated and cheered by the attitude of the men. Loneliness is the penalty of leadership but the man who has to make the decisions is assisted greatly if he feels there is no uncertainty in the minds of those who follow him. And that his orders will be carried out confidently and in expectation of success.” - Shackleton

33. Into the Boats—April 9, 1916 "The temperature was down to four degrees below zero, and a film of ice formed on the surface of the sea. When we were not on watch we lay in each other's arms for warmth. Our frozen suits thawed where our bodies met, and as the slightest movement exposed these comparatively warm spots to the biting air, we clung motionless, whispering each to his companion our hopes and thoughts. Occasionally, from almost clear sky came snow-showers, falling silently on the sea and laying a thin shroud of white over our bodies and our boats.“ - Shackleton

34. Land at Last—April 15, 1916 “Obviously we must find some better resting place. I decided not to share with the men the knowledge of the uncertainties of our situation until they had enjoyed the full sweetness of rest, untroubled by the thought that at any minute, they might be called to face peril again. The threat of the sea had been our portion during many, many days and a respite meant much to weary bodies and jaded minds.” - Shackleton

35. 800 Miles to South Georgia

36. Greatest Sailing Voyage Ever Made “Indeed, it might be said that Shackleton kept a finger on each man’s pulse. He would immediately order another hot drink of milk to be prepared and served to all. He never let the man know that it was on his account, lest he became nervous about himself.” - Worsley

37. South Georgia Island

38. Back at Elephant Island

39. Rescue by the Yelcho - August 30, 1916

40. “All Well, Thank God!” “Soon the boat approached near enough for the boss, who was standing up in the bows, to shout to Wild, ‘Are you all well?’ To which Wild replied, ‘All Safe, All Well,’ and we could see a smile light up the boss’s face, as he said, “All Well, Thank God!”

41. Lessons for Leaders in the 21st Century from Shackleton • How is this story inspirational to you? • What part of the story most impacted you? • How would you describe the journey of the Endurance and the crew? • How could you use this story to inspire others at work?

42. “You wait. Everyone has an Antarctic.” -Thomas Pynchon, V.

43. The Karluk Expedition

44. The Karluk—A Leadership Failure The wooden-hulled Karluk departed Canada for the western Arctic in June 1913. It became solidly trapped in sea ice in August and never reached its destination. Most crew and passengers spent the next 13 months stranded in the Arctic, where 11 men died.

45. Team Lessons from Shackleton • How might you use this story? • What team stories of your own does this surface? • How can you use storytelling to motivate and engage team members?