Preface xiii
The author explains the purpose of the book and the process by
which it came to be written.
Part One
1 Squirrel Inc.: How to Craft a Story to Spark Organizational
Change 3
Diana is an up-and-coming executive at Squirrel Inc., an
organization in decline. She seeks guidance from a bartender on
how
to persuade the organization to change. She learns, in nine
steps,
how to craft a story to communicate a complex idea and spark
action.
2 Diana Tells Her Story: How to Perform the Story to Spark
Change 25
After initial success with her story at Squirrel Inc., Diana
returns to seek further guidance from the bartender on how to
enhance the performance of her story.
Part Two
3 Save Squirrel Inc. Night: Seven Types of Organizational
Storytelling 41
After the success of her story with the managing committee of
Squirrel Inc., Diana joins employees to explore other ways in
which
storytelling can help address the challenges the firm is
facing.
4 Whyse's Story: How to Use Storytelling to Reveal Who You
Are and Build Trust 49
Whyse shows how storytelling can enhance communication in
corporate environments by communicating who you are.
5 Hester's Story: How to Use Storytelling to Get Individuals
to Work Together 59
Hester shows how storytelling can be used to get individuals
working together. She presents five steps to craft a story for
nurturing a community.
6 Mark's Story: How to Use Storytelling to Transmit Values
69
Mark shows how stories that are told and retold in a
organization, particularly about the organization's leaders,
transmit the organization's values.
7 Mocha's Story: How to Use Storytelling to Tame the
Grapevine 79
Mocha shows how humor can be used to harness the power of the
informal network of communication in an organization and to
tame
the grapevine by neutralizing rumors and bad news.
8 Howe's Story: How to Use Storytelling to Share Knowledge
89
Howe shows how the sharing of knowledge takes place through a
particular kind of narrative.
9 Sandra's Story: How to Use Storytelling to Create a Future
101
Sandra shows how future stories?visions, business models,
scenarios?help organizations move into the future. Meanwhile
Howe reveals some unexpected developments within Squirrel Inc.
10 Howe Upsets the Acorns: How Individuals and Organizations
React to Change 115
The discussion in the bar now turns to what will happen next at
Squirrel Inc. Will the old way of doing business triumph? Or
will
Squirrel Inc. carry through with the change? The characters
explore
these and other possibilities.
Part Three
11 The Journey of a Leader: Staying Alive Through the Dangers
of Leadership 127
As the continuing tale of Squirrel Inc. unfolds, the characters
encounter a variety of surprises and Diana goes on a journey.
12 The Return to Squirrel Inc.: Living the Story as Well as
Telling It 143
We learn the impact of storytelling on Squirrel Inc. and on
Diana herself.
Seven High-Value Forms of Organizational Storytelling 150
The nature, form, and purpose of seven high-value kinds of
organizational storytelling are compared, in a table.
Notes 155
Further reading 169
Write to the author 177
Acknowledgments 179
About the author 181
STEPHEN DENNING is a leading writer who consults with organizations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia on leadership, management, innovation, and business narrative. In 2009, he was a visiting fellow at All Souls College, Oxford University, U.K. He is the author of The Secret Language of Leadershipa Financial Times selection in Best Books of 2007, and a 800-CEO-READ selection as the best book on leadership in 2007.
??a very effective management tool?it is sure to
inspire readers working in all sorts of organizations??
(Edge Magazine, February 2005)
??This charming little book holds many secrets
within its attractive covers?.? (City to Cities,
Jan/Feb 2005)
??clearly encapsulates both the why and how of seven
types of organisational storytelling?. (Knowledge
Management, September 2004)
??makes serious points about leadership and
change?? (Financial Times, 29 July 2004)
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