Stories as Strategy

Wake Me Up When the Data is Over: How Organizations Use Stories to Drive Results (Jossey-Bass, 2006) is the title of a book released this week edited by my close friend and colleague Lori Silverman. Lori and her contributors make solid and sound arguments on the use of stories to drive organizational performance and goals. Note also, that the book concentrates on the stories themselves rather than the art of storytelling - a different subject, actually.

We've all been subjected to endless PowerPoint decks with speakers droning on-and-on about some chart or graph or worse, reading the deck verbatim without much else in terms on context and candor. Frankly in such cases, I'd rather watch paint dry. The right stories, told well at the right times give life to facts, energize a set of objectives, and resonate with audiences such that positive actions can and will  be taken and great results achieved.

Architects and projects managers routinely give presentations to constituencies and other parts of their organizations. The right story, in the proper context, is a far more powerful call to action than simply regurgitating sets of facts and recommendations. Lori and her co-authors give you the tools to accomplish this. Although I know Lori and a good portion of the co-authors well, the codification of stories in the organizational environment that this book achieves will return what you paid for it many times over - without the bromides and common-sense shtick that other business books offer.

Through a special arrangement Lori made with me (and no, I only got a free book out if it....honest...:)), if you order through Tuesday October 23rd through Amazon.com, you will receive free gifts with a value of up to $500.

Here's the link on Amazon to order the book, and here's the link to order your free gifts from Lori after your purchase.

This one is definitely worth your time to read folks, and I am always interested in any and all feedback from those who have read this, and even better, used the techniques in this book.

Comments

[Natalija]

I agree, people remember things better when you tell them a story. It's working with both kidds and adults. It's an old educational method dating from prehystoric times, and it's so effective, so human and so sweet. It takes us back to our childhood and back to time when we were listening our grannies telling us fairy tales and thus forming our life scripts...That suggestive is the story telling method.
My favorite story was Little Red Ridinhood...

[Timothy Johnson]

Bob... I'll order a copy. I've been drawn to the use of story-telling as a communication tool for a while now. Thanks for making us aware of this new book! I told my project management students a few weeks ago that the art of story-telling is a critical skillset for being a good project manager (since most of our time is spent communicating anyway).