Learn the value of storytelling

In the book Made to Stick by the Heath brothers, they talk abut the value of storytelling as a way to get your message to "stick."  They remind us that telling stories is a simple way for people to remember your message.  This is just as true for leaders.  What is the message you want people to remember?  What stories do you want people to say about you as a leader or about your organization?

I often say that if you want to change the culture of the organization, then change the stories you are telling.  One way to do this is to ask people to share stories.  A few of the organizations I have interviewed for a study share stories in a tangible way.  Leaders ask employees to submit stories they want to share that reflect organizational values.  Then there is a review committee that selects a limited number that are published in a publication.  At one organization, they are into their eighth publication.

They told me that having these books of stories written by employees has been one of the best ways for them to share, reinforce, and communicate what is important to the organization.  These stories are shared in interesting and creative ways such as the reading of a story before the start of a meeting.  Since the stories are short, they can be shared with new employees or even candidates when they interview for positions. 

People remember stories and they share them--good and bad.  What do you want them to remember about you as leader?  What stories do you want them to share about you?