OrganizationalStorytelling for Librarians:

Using Stories for Effective Leadership

By Kate Marek

Presentation by Claudia Baranowski and Hadeal Salamah

About the Author

Kate Marek is a professor at Dominican University’s Graduate School of Library and Information Science, where she teaches in the areas of technology and policy. She has worked in the LIS profession for over 25 years as a professional librarian, a teacher, a trainer and as a consultant.

What is Organizational Storytelling?

is about effectively sharing personal experiences to make connections with people, ideas and values in the workplace

http://www.netrafic.com/blog/your-audience-is-your-priority

Power of Organizational Storytelling

Xerox Corp - shared coffee breaks, essential quality of human sharing over common experience

Paul Duguid’s story o Example of what can be lost

when libraries digitizeo Power of story to illustrate a

point, facilitate in learning and “stickiness” of story to one’s memory

Technology has facilitated greater connections at expense of face to face interactions

http://people.ischool.berkeley.edu/~duguid/IMG_0991.JPG

Stories for Libraries: The Organizational Narrative

Whoever controls the information gets to tell the story

Whoever gets to tell the story wins

Capture and construct your own story, as well as your organization

Classic Organizational Narrative

B - Beginning, the library’s mission and early days

M - Middle, key events of your library, i.e.. construction of a new building

E – End, the vision for your library’s future

Stories for LeadershipWho I am and Why am I here

Sharing stories makes leaders more human, connect with listeners

If you don’t tell your own story, someone else will their story about you

Springboard stories

Stephen Denning, executive and organizational storyteller

“What if…?”

Opens minds to new possibilities

freedom to imaginehttp://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQSgTqW0quWrlI5vKwCIHycMpL9EKo8OWXdEp6gHpucS8rP5ah8

Using Stories to Persuade

Propose new idea with evidence and logic, use stories to engage listeners heart to make commitment to change

Stories make human connections that data and information alone can’t make

Confirmation Bias

people seek to find information that confirm their established beliefs

http://www.theteachingpulse.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stonesoup.jpg

Denning’s 3 Key Steps in Language of Leadership

Get the audience’s attention

Elicit desire for a different future

Reinforce with reasons

Getting the Story Right

An accurate story discredits the whole message – Al Gore

Reframing (or spin!) – how we frame a story can significantly alter how the content is received

Effective Listening: Building connections through

listening to others’ stories truly builds community

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTXUNAqj26-e-EA9_5QZVZLcJUo3Vwi7Ag266jYDCEF24M3ZJ5J

Chapter 2 Communicating Vision and Values

Shared vision – important to a learning organization

Peter Senge- “a force in people’s hearts, a force of

impressive power” (16)

Story of Spartacus - film clip

Shared Values

• Within concept of “shared vision” there is an explicit implication of “shared values” (16)

• Shared values in library profession o Equity of accesso Privacyo Service to the user

Using Stories to Communicate Organizational Values

Sacred bundles – Native American Indians, a collection of items that are historical and sacred mementos of a tribe entrusted an elder to keep safe

Sacred Bundle storieso Story of the organizationo represents its heart and soul

http://www.kshs.org/cool2/graphics/bundle.gif

Library examples of sacred bundle stories

Sylvia Jenkins, Moraine Valley Community College

o Communicates shared ownership and shared responsibility

Carolyn Anthony, Skokie Public Library

o example of ‘viral story’o Response to USA Patriot Act

Communicating Personal Values

Stories are valuable for communicating personal values such as honesty, integrity, and ethical conduct

Personal Storieso Leaders should tell “who I am” stories for listeners to learn

about them and key influences

Personal Stories for Leadership

In order to use stories effectively, leaders should

think about these three questions

o What do you want to listeners to feel?

o What do you want listeners to remember?

o What do you want listeners to believe?

Espoused Values vs. Values-in-Action

Personal stories that share values should be followed by action that reinforces that value.

Avoid being preachy or moralistic

Be authentic

Finding and Building Stories

Building sacred bundle stories

• What are 5 to 10 pivotal events in your library’s history?• Who are your library’s heroes?• What key values and characteristics of your library are

highlighted in your story? • What physical objects or artifacts might you include in your

sacred bundle?• What crisis events or stories are in your sacred bundle?

Building Personal Value StoriesBuilding Personal Value Stories

Similar principles to creating sacred bundle stories but think of your own experiences

What are some pivotal events of your life?Who are your heroes? What about library heroes?What important artifacts or objects do you treasure and why?What crisis events in your life helped shape who you are today?

Chapter 6 Developing the Skill Set

General Process and Principles

http://www.portlandstorytellers.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/WeGrowStorytellers.jpg

Be Thoughtful and Listen To Those Around You

Listening is a skill

Pay attention to others; understand their stories

Listen with your “third ear”

Three ‘R’s of listeninghttp://hsc.csu.edu.au/entertain/industry/core/manage/3457/images/Listening.jpg

Be Authentic

People can detest an imposter (values-in-action)

Connect with people bases on shared interests and backgrounds

Respect people enough to be genuine

Authenticity comes from consistency

Consider your Audience

Who are they?

What are their concerns?

What are they ready to hear? http://cdn.netrafic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/audience.gif

Consider Your Goals

Different goals require different stories

Do you want to spark action? consider telling a springboard story

Are you trying to establish trust? Try telling a “who I am” story

Creating Your Stories

Be on the lookout for ideas to add to your story inventory

Take notes: capture your thoughts, ideas and impressions in writing as a useful tool for memory and reflection

Keep a mental “index” to help build and enhance your stories

oChronological indexoGeneral theme index

Use story “triggers”

Write drafts

Learn the storyo Visualizationo Outline with key pointso MIT’s

Practice

http://alcfezbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/whats-your-story.jpg

Specific Story Types for Organizational Storytelling

Denning’s Storytelling Catalog

o Sparking actiono Communicating who you areo Transmitting valueso Fostering collaborationo Taming the grapevineo Sharing knowledgeo Leading people into the future

Simmons Six Stories You Need To Know How To Tell

o “who I am” storieso “why am I here” storieso “the vision” storieso “teaching” storieso “values-in-action” storieso “I know what you are thinking” stories

Story TriggersWays to Generate Story Ideas

Four Buckets of StoriesoA time you shinedoA time you blew itoA mentoroA book, movie or current event

Photographs and MemoriesoOld photos can trigger memories which lead to stories o“dig out” a mental image, fill in the details to make your story

Just Tell Them What Happened

Conversational storytelling – a story does not have to be dramatic to be powerful

Anecdotes

TED : Ideas Worth Sharing

a web-based “clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world's most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each

other”

Collecting Stories From Others

Easy ways to build your library’s stories

invite patrons to fill out comment cards

host creative essay contests

Stylistic Advice

Be Yourself

Confidence is gained with repetition

Choose stories that you enjoy telling

Beware of TMI

Beware of the “well-told story”

Power and Potential of Organizational Storytelling

“Storytelling is a valuable tool for all kinds of communication in the workplace, but we haven’t yet

maximized the potential in libraries. But …what if we could?!” (91)