Why we should manage change with storytelling…

Growing up, I’d occasionally take off my spectacles and put them next to me on the sofa, bed, or sometimes even the floor. Just for a moment.

My father never tired of telling me NOT to do this. Much to my annoyance — after all, I wasn’t that clumsy or forgetful! Nothing could go wrong.

And it didn’t. So I always rolled my eyes at my over-cautious father’s message: “Never leave your spectacles (or laptop) where you or someone else might sit or stand on them!”

Most people experience change management efforts the same way.

It’s important to YOU, the change manager, but it’s not important to them. They don’t see the need.

Lightbulb moment

Years later, my father recounted how he was rushing for an important meeting…

As he dressed all in a hurry, he sat on his spectacles, breaking them. Which was an expensive thing to do, but also wasted more time at the worst possible moment. My dad found his old backup specs and had to go to this super important meeting late and looking a little odd.

Now, hearing this story, I suddenly empathised with my father and understood why this message was so important to him. Even all these years after the eyeglasses incident.

From then on, I found myself carefully setting my own specs on the table rather than the bed, even for the few seconds it takes to change my top. Whenever I do, I recall my father’s story. If I’m not careful, now I’ll be the one cautioning people not to put their specs down there…

This is the power of storytelling.

The power of storytelling

A directive comes from outside.

Your conscious mind likes to argue with outsiders.

But a believed story becomes vicarious experience. I identified with my father’s broken spectacles encounter. To my subconscious, that happened to ME. And “I” never wanted to make the same mistake again – just like my father.

OK, this is a simple behavioural change. What about big, complex corporate changes?

Don’t overcomplicate it! Don’t abstract! That’s exactly why most change programs fail.

Changing professional behaviour works exactly the same way as changing private behaviour.

Manage change with storytelling

Narratives need illustrating with stories or they lose their immediacy and power.

Changing narratives requires changing the stories.

Are you trying to manage behavior change?

Are you doing so from the outside… Or are you getting inside their head?

Switch up the PUSH communication of directives with the PULL communication of stories and see the difference!

What are you trying to change in 2023?

Where are you trying to others?

Is the desire an externally imposed directive or has it connected with intrinsic motivation?

Could you find a story that will help you or others to own that desire for change?

#family #changemanagement #behaviorchange #empathymatters

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Find out how to use simple stories to achieve complex goals in my book, Business Storytelling from Hype to Hack.

Do you manage change with storytelling? Does the above resonate with you? I’d love to hear from you!