Our second storytelling evening is taking place next Monday 12th at The Centre for Healthy Living.  It's focus being on how to use stories to make an impact, influence and persuade.  We are looking forward to facilitating the evening, and learning along with the group more about the power of stories for business.  Here is one story that we found enlightening about influencing team members during challenging times.....

A CEO of a small start up company created his own version of the story of the artist, Van Gogh to communicate his vision. The idea of Van Gogh appealed to his 20-something staff's self-perception as "a bunch of crazy lunatic software developers." Van Gogh may have been nuts, but his dedication and genius resulted in art now worth millions. This leader also knew that millions of pounds would strike a chord as well. He told about Van Gogh's brother supporting him even when he had no money and had been institutionalised. The unspoken message in the story was that their sacrifice, his dedication, and the lack of public recognition would all make sense (and be very profitable) in the end. Granted he didn't talk about he fact that Van Gogh was dead and gone by the time his work was recognised but that's not the point. The story delivered to his team a moving vision. It worked for them. It made the invisible visible, at least in their mind's eye. They had Van Gogh prints all over the office. Many of the team had a favorite print that spoke to them and kept them going when they felt like quitting.

Please share here any stories that are from your experience, or that you are aware of that have helped you become more effective....