Leadership Toolbox: Storytelling

John Kotter penned a column in Forbes on the Power of Storytelling that is worth reading. 

Storytelling is a valuable leadership tool, especially for lawyers.  Attorneys are trained to use stories in court, to create a narritive that makes sense to judge and jury. 

Consider how you can use stories to:

• Communicate values, especially by invoking stories of founders or heroes of the firm.
• Model behavior:  use stories to illustrate good or bad behavior, habits, client service skills, business development tactics, etc. 
• Empathize:  use stories to illustrate your vulnerability and insight into a situation without being arrogant or self-righteous.

Stephanie Kane facilitates a workshop on storytelling for lawyers.  She lists five components to a compelling story:

• Character: Who is the story about? Stories communicate human experience.
• Conflict: What do these people want? Stories happen when expectations and reality collide.
• Causation: How do the characters act under pressure? Stories relate a cause-and-effect sequence of events.
• Context: When and where did it happen? Stories place events in a compelling context.
• Coherence: Why is this meaningful? Stories teach how to make sense out of life.

Source: www.lifeinlaw.com

Action:  What stories do you tell?  What stories can you develop to put in your leadership toolbox?  What stories are told about you that teach others?  Are they all positive?