Corporate Services
Once upon a time there was ...
Stories begin with the status quo. From a particular starting place, people then journey through challenge - to resolution. Beginning, middle, end. It's the grammar of human understanding. From the cradle to the grave, stories are part of our journeys. They play a teaching role on society's behalf and aid individual health and well-being. Many management gurus advocate the usefulness of narrative in the business and organisational environment because, as Margaret Parkin argues in Tales for Change,
the transitional nature of the story is inherently able to help people deal with change.
The following services can help manage change within organisational culture:
• Corporate Storytelling
• Workshop Design An example is Doctors on the Move, an interactive workshop to enhance communication within the Health Sector.
• Publications and Writing Services.
Here are some other viewpoints which argue for the benefits of storytelling:
Steve Denning says stories help make a ‘tomorrow' with connectedness as opposed to maintaining ‘yesterday'. His books Springboard and Squirrel Inc. teach organisational leaders to create stories.
To win employee hearts and minds, leaders need to:
• reduce anxiety and anger among employees
• promote optimism and confidence
• develop people's skills
• help people manage conflict
• build trust within and across teams.
(Susan Michie and Michael West in IJMR.)
Awareness of the present moment is a foundation for a better future, Peter Senge et al suggest in their collaborative book, Presence.
The future needs us, now.
Harvard Business School runs courses in creativity. Why? Because creativity is:
- in everyone
- essential for health, happiness and success
- essential for responding to the dynamic business environment.
Zing Stories values creativity. In fact, it is built on creative engagement.
