Telling the Story

How to master the art of narrative leadership

Telling the Story shows how leaders affect our understanding of what is possible and desirable through the stories they tell. It opens a door into the world of narrative leadership: what stories are and how they work; when to tell a story and how to tell one well; and how the language and metaphors we use influence our actions and change how we think about the world.

• Explains how narrative leadership shapes and defines what’s possible on an organizational level

• Written by a renowned consultant on the art of narrative leadership

• Challenges leaders to consider how narrative can influence and help create the kind of society they envision
Acknowledgments xiii

Foreword xv

Introduction: Turning the Page 1

Narrative Leadership 2

Once Upon a Time 4

Why We Need New Stories 5

About This Book 8

Water on the Rock 10

SECTION ONE: FOUNDATIONS 13

Chapter 1: Why Stories Matter 15

Swimming in a Sea of Stories 15

Imagining Ourselves 18

Imagining Each Other 19

Imagining the World 21

Changing the Story 26

Bonus: Life of Pi 27

Summary 28

Chapter 2: Rethinking Leadership 31

Making Common Sense 33

Case Study: The Force Review 38

Conclusions 40

Bonus: Erin Brockovich 42

Summary 43

SECTION TWO: ON STORIES 45

Chapter 3: Stories in Our Bones 47

Logos: The Science of Storytelling 49

Mythos: The Story of Storytelling 53

Bonus: Atanarjuat, The Fast Runner 60

Summary 61

Chapter 4: The World of Stories 63

Fact, Fiction, and Fantasy 63

Finding the Plot 71

Bonus: Big Fish 74

Summary 74

Chapter 5: How Stories Work 77

Information, Argument, and Story 82

Bonus: An Inconvenient Truth 87

Summary 89

SECTION THREE: NARRATIVE LEADERSHIP 91

Chapter 6: The Art of Narrative Leadership 93

Vinoba Bhave 98

Developing Our Capacity to Lead 105

Bonus: Alchemy in Action 109

Summary 110

Chapter 7: Know Thyself 113

The Storied Self 114

Being and Doing 117

Bonus: Groundhog Day 127

Summary 128

Chapter 8: Only Connect 131

Creating Communicative Spaces 132

Listening to the Story 138

Conversation Matters 139

Whose Stories Count? 141

Bonus: Local Hero 144

Summary 145

Chapter 9: Stand for Something 147

Leading Minds 148

What Is Your Story? 152

Bonus: The Man from Hope 161

Summary 162

SECTION FOUR: STORYTELLING 165

Chapter 10: So You Want To Tell a Story 167

What Kinds of Story Work Best? 176

Where Do I Find Stories to Tell? 179

Bonus: Made in Dagenham 181

Summary 181

Chapter 11: A Good Story Well Told 183

Castles in the Air 195

Bonus: The Simple Shapes of Stories 197

Summary 197

Chapter 12: On Your Feet 199

Story Coaching 200

Introducing Stories 205

Holding their Attention 206

Making Sure You Can Be Heard 210

Finding the Right Language 212

Bonus: The King’s Speech 214

Summary 214

SECTION FIVE: TIME AND CHANGE 217

Chapter 13: Time and Narrative 219

Learning from the Past: The Told Story 222

Standing in the Present: The Unfolding Story 232

Shaping the Future: The Imagined Story 236

Bonus: The Insider 241

Summary 242

Chapter 14: Storytelling for a Change 245

Don’t Think of an Elephant 246

Empires of the Mind 251

Bonus: The Foresters 261

Summary 262

Chapter 15: Life in the Fast Lane 265

Modern, Post-modern, and Hypermodern 266

The Medium and the Message 270

Storytelling in a Global Village 272

Signs of the Times 275

Bonus: Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room 282

Summary 283

SECTION SIX: BETWEEN STORIES 285

Chapter 16: Heart and Soul 287

Missing the Boat 289

Ambit and Ambition 292

Two Countries 296

Narrative Wreckage 299

Welcome to Wonderland 301

Bonus: Beasts of the Southern Wild 304

Summary 304

Appendix: Additional Resources 307

Index 311

"With Mead's experience running a narrative leadership consultancy, the book is an insightful contribution to the field of leadership." (Elite Business, May 2014)

"Mead's tips on how to speak clearly and honestly are as good as anything on the market, and this book is as rich and absorbing as the most compelling yarn." (People Management, June 2014)

"... it does a good job of explaining how the language and metaphors that we use through the telling of stories can influence our actions, and change how we and others think about the world." (Talk Business, June 2014)

"This book sets out a solid foundation for the role and position of story-telling and weaves it into a modern narrative around leadership explaining how the oft-over-looked human elements of organizational leadership can be sustained through the sense-making of stories." (Developing Leaders, August 2014)

"... an informative and interesting book for leaders and management consultants wanting to expand their horizons to include story and storytelling in their toolkits." (Facts & Fiction, August 2014) Geoff Mead is the founder of Narrative Leadership Associates, a consultancy focused on the use of storytelling for sustainable leadership (www.narrativeleadership.com). As an organizational consultant, keynote speaker and workshop leader, he has taken his work on narrative leadership into the boardrooms of blue chip companies, universities and government departments, for the past two decades.
After a successful police career, life took a different turn when he discovered the magic of stories and began to explore their power to liberate the human spirit. Now, he performs traditional stories and runs story-based workshops in the UK and as far afield as Spain, Canada and Japan. His first book Coming Home to Story: Storytelling Beyond Happily Ever After was published in 2011 by Vala (www.valapublishers.coop).
Pursuing various academic and research interests, he has been awarded an MBA, a postgraduate diploma in Gestalt psychology and a PhD in personal and leadership development, resulting in his appointment as a visiting research fellow at the University of Bath. He has also designed national public service leadership programmes and served on the faculty of the Prime Minister's Top Management Programme.
Geoff has four children, five grandchildren and an entirely unreasonable love of Morgan sports cars. He divides his time between his partner’s house in the Cotswolds and Lyme Regis, where he lives and writes in sight of the sea. "Mead's book makes me feel hopeful and inspired about the future, and my own role in helping to shape it. His grounded, practical wisdom reminds us that stories have always been the way forward for humanity, and it is time for us to take more concerted action to counter the dominating master narrative of our most recent history. You will find his words a balm for the soul, evoking a meaningful walk in the woods with a wise elder."
—Doug Paxton, Faculty and Co-Director of the Leadership Center, Saint Mary's College of California

"The title of this book says it all, this is a heart-felt and soul-full book taking us on a journey where we can discover ourselves and achieve leadership success. It is only by finding and acknowledging our authentic truth that we can inspire others to follow. If you want to find out what it takes to be an inspiring and successful leader, step into this world of story."
—Jacob Tas, Executive Director of Operations, Action for Children

"In many spheres of my life, I have learnt that getting the basics right is the platform on which success is built. Geoff's book turns the spotlight on one of the basic activities of leaders and leadership teams - that of storytelling. The book comprehensively covers the theoretical and practical aspects of storytelling. The case studies and associated experiences of other leaders provide rich detail and inspiration. The book is a catalyst for self-improvement which in turn produces better organizational outcomes and a more successful future."
—Sir David Varney, Formerly-Chairman O2, CEO BG, Commissioner HMRC

"This is surely a 'must read' for anyone in a leadership role (which is pretty much everybody!). Geoff's ability to explain narrative leadership is unsurpassed and his passion for storytelling comes through loud and clear in his writing. Understanding and using narrative has completely transformed my approach to leading an organization and influencing others with great success.

Telling the Story will inspire you and equip you to use your inherent storytelling ability to influence those around you in a powerful and memorable way. I could not recommend this book more highly!"
—Libby Hackett, Chief Executive, University Alliance

Telling the Story opens a door into the world of narrative leadership, showing how leaders affect our understanding of what is possible and desirable through the stories they tell and embody.

This book will help executives, managers and concerned citizens to identify what stories are and how they work; when to tell a story and how to tell one well. It offers a challenge to consider the purposes behind our stories: what are we leading for? It will help practitioners identify their own authentic story and use this to lead convincingly.

Using tips, exercises and examples, Telling the Story will help leaders build on their own current practices using the vital art of narrative leadership.

This book is both practical and thought-provoking, to encourage leaders to consider the big stories of our time and how we can use our own stories to create and take responsibility for the kind of future we want.

"Geoff Mead is a master of both the theory and practice of narrative leadership. Telling the Story is refreshing in its frankness and insight. It left me feeling challenged, energized and inspired to think about the stories I want to live and tell through my own leadership. Wonderful reading for anyone who wants to enhance their positive impact on the world."
—Lindsay Levin, Founder and Managing Partner, Leaders' Quest