1. Copyright 2008 Polaris Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. 1 Storytelling At Work A Powerful Tool for Performance Improvement Professionals Karen Dietz, PhD www.polaris-associates.com

2. 2 Copyright 2008 Polaris Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. 5 Topics For Today 1. How & Why Stories Work 2. Application Chart 3. Tools & Processes 4. Effectiveness 5. Quality & Ethics

3. 3 Copyright 2008 Polaris Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. How & Why Stories Work The Art of Story The Art of Story What happened? What happened? The Science of Story The Science of Story Natural language Natural language Neuroscience Neuroscience Whole brain, whole body Whole brain, whole body Definition -- an act of communication providing people with packets of sensory material -- allowing them to quickly and easily internalize the material, comprehend it, and create meaning from it. Definition -- an act of communication providing people with packets of sensory material -- allowing them to quickly and easily internalize the material, comprehend it, and create meaning from it. What does this mean for us? What does this mean for us?

4. 4 Copyright 2008 Polaris Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. Story Application Spectrum

5. 5 Copyright 2008 Polaris Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. Sample Tools, Processes Future Story Future Story Scenarios Scenarios Appreciative Inquiry Appreciative Inquiry Visioning Visioning Ethnographic Interviewing Ethnographic Interviewing Springboard Stories – The Springboard by Stephen Denning Springboard Stories – The Springboard by Stephen Denning Case Studies Learning Histories – Art Kleiner Anecdote Circles -- http://www.anecdote.com.au/index.php http://www.anecdote.com.au/index.php Jump Start Storytelling -- http://www.anecdote.com.au/archi ves/2008/04/jumpstart_story.html http://www.anecdote.com.au/archi ves/2008/04/jumpstart_story.html Sharing Circles Story Assessments Stories as Core Competence Stories as Core Competence

6. 6 Copyright 2008 Polaris Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. Story Effectiveness What is a story? What is a story? Anecdote, example, vignette, etc. Anecdote, example, vignette, etc. Personal story, 3 rd person, tale Personal story, 3 rd person, tale Working With Stories Working With Stories Finding Finding Digging Digging Selecting Selecting Crafting Crafting Sharing/embodying Sharing/embodying Media – oral, written, audio, video, poster, icon Media – oral, written, audio, video, poster, icon

7. 7 Copyright 2008 Polaris Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. Quality & Ethics Quality Quality Formal Story Training – oral storytelling, acting, entertainment, improv, presentation/speaking skills, digital media, writing, academics, ethnographic research, narrative research Formal Story Training – oral storytelling, acting, entertainment, improv, presentation/speaking skills, digital media, writing, academics, ethnographic research, narrative research Experience – in organizations Experience – in organizations Participation in org story professional communities – Worldwide Story Work, Storytelling in Organizations SIG, Golden Fleece, Professional Storyteller Participation in org story professional communities – Worldwide Story Work, Storytelling in Organizations SIG, Golden Fleece, Professional Storyteller Continual learning – in storytelling, org narratives, OD, etc. Continual learning – in storytelling, org narratives, OD, etc. Ethics Ethics Do no harm Do no harm Respect – appreciative listening, audience, and the story, no over- storying (Swift Boat Veterans For Truth) Respect – appreciative listening, audience, and the story, no over- storying (Swift Boat Veterans For Truth) Permissions Permissions

8. 8 Copyright 2008 Polaris Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact Karen Dietz, PhD Polaris Associates Consulting San Diego, CA 92102 619-235-0052 www.polaris-associates.com kda@polaris-associates.com Karen is an organizational development professional specializing in stories. She is a business consultant, facilitator, trainer, storyteller, story coach to senior executives, and the former Executive Director of the National Storytelling Network. She has worked with organizations for over 25 years, and clients include Fortune 500 companies, business leaders, and community advocates.