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Storytellingin the workplace The universe is made of stories, not atoms. Muriel RukeyserThe destiny of the world is determined less by the battles that are lost and won than by the stories it loves and believes in. Harold Goddard

I have not failed. I have found ten thousand ways that won't work. Thomas EdisonIf they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about answers. Thomas PynchonThere have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories. Ursula K. LeGuin

EventsLinked in sequenceAcross timeAccording to a plot

Whats a story?

Overarching big stories that set parameters for personal, local, national stories. Examples:CompetitionEconomic growthLife as a garden or life as a machineRugged individualismIt takes a village

Meta narrativesWe are story-making beings. We organize our lives through storiesThe meaning of events comes from the stories people tell themselves and each other about those events

Assumptions (from the field of narrative therapy)

The same events can be storied in a variety of waysand that makes a difference in how life is experiencedStories are mapsAny story highlights certain things and obscures others

www.narrativetherapychicago.com

Assumptions (from the field of narrative therapy)Four Elements of Successful Stories

http://www.storyatwork.com/documents/4ElementsofStory_BobDickman.pdf

In almost every aspect of management and organization, storytelling has a role. The reason: stories are often what compel us to act.Storytelling: Data with soul!

http://www.intervista-institute.com/os.php

Storytelling at workStrategic stories: People can picture them, remember them and retell them. Tell us Why? and convey emotion.Inspire people to take action in accordance with the new strategy.

http://www.anecdote.com.au/whitepapers.php?wpid=23

Storytelling at workSpark actionCommunicate who the leaders areCommunicate who the organization is (branding)Transmit values

What can a story do at work?

Foster collaboration (develop shared perspectives)Tame the grapevineShare knowledgeLead people into the future

What can a story do at work?

http://www.stevedenning.com/Documents/Leader-Ch-1.pdf

http://www.stevedenning.com/Documents/Leader-Ch-1.pdfdigital story (digital story)A short, first person video-narrative created by combining recorded voice, still and moving images, and music or other sounds.

digital storyteller (digital storyteller) Anyone who has a desire to document life experience, ideas, or feelings through the use of story and digital media.

http://www.storycenter.org/

Digital Storytellingthe practice of combining narrative with digital content, including images, sound, and video, to create a short movie, typically with a strong emotional component. can be interactive movies with highly produced audio and visual effects--but a set of slides with corresponding narration or music constitutes a basic digital story. can be instructional, persuasive, historical, or reflective. http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7021.pdf

Digital Storytellingthe application of technology to the age-old experience of sharing personal narratives. Whats new is the growing availability of sophisticated tools, as well as a maturing infrastructure to disseminate such content. Growth of multimedia applications will place greater power into the hands of more people, allowing richer digital stories. Digital Storytelling

Deep Water by Cindy Lollar

Digital Storytelling example

Center for the Education of WomenMPortfolioPatricia Andersons (U-M librarian) blog about her experience with digital storytellingCareers at UMHSU-M News Service example: A tree grows on the Diag

U-M Examples of Digital storytellingCenter for Digital StorytellingDigital Storytelling CookbookFour story-based practices to foster insightThe Leaders Guide to Storytelling (Steve Denning)Storytelling at Work: Leadership strategies for achieving changeResources