The Storytellers

15 Percy St is a hive of activity.  Not that it wasn’t beforehand of course, but a new impetus has gripped the team as part of our ‘Fighting Back’ campaign.

Gone are any negative mumblings and mutterings about the recession, and how this might impact on our business.  Any troubled conversations about ‘what if’s…’ (apart from the necessary scenario-planning which every sensible business should be undertaking) are sooooooooo 2008!  We are Fighting Back.  In our delivery, attitude and behaviours.  And more importantly, the clear message to our clients is that they too must Fight Back.

Businesses need to adapt and change according to the changing world…..and that includes us.  So our entire team is involved in a collaborative effort to ensure that our process and products are made as flexible and adaptable as possible to suit every scenario and budget. Dedicated workstreams are focusing on introducing new products, and adapting existing products wherever possible to allow as much flex in delivery methods as possible.  Not doing a big leadership event this year?  Then think about alternative methods of engaging your leaders in your Story, even if only a smaller number, and even if you can’t bring them all together in one place.  Need to improve your manager communication skills?  Then think about participating in one of our storytelling workshops, which will help managers become authentic leaders and confident communicators.  And there’s more.  Much, much more.

The message to our clients is that organisations MUST NOT stop their engagement efforts.  They must work doubly hard to ensure that a compelling, clear Story is communicated to their respective workforces so there is no doubt as to the direction in which the organisation is going during this turbulent time, and the role that everybody must play to help it succeed.  Equally important is that they have a strong core of leaders to champion the cause, inspire their teams and lead their own campaign to Fight Back.   Andy Coslett, CEO of Intercontinental Hotels, has created a core of 240 ‘Knights’, alluding to the legend of King Arthur, to ensure that when he ‘pulls the rope’, 240 others pull with him.  A great example of an inspirational leader in my book.  And on that very subject, think of the role that narrative has played in years gone by during times of crisis.  As one of my colleagues, Hector Macdonald, writes:

‘At Gettysburg, Lincoln used less than 300 words to lay out the background to the Civil War and the argument for continuing in the bitter struggle.  Shakespeare’s Henry V offered a compelling vision of success to inspire his men at Agincourt.  Churchill spoke both of the grave situation Britain faced and what it might take to win – fighting on the beaches, on the landing grounds, in the fields and in the streets.  The background, the current situation, the argument for struggle, the vision of success and our role in achieving it: these are the essential components of stories powerful enough, if well communicated, to win wars and change history.

‘The political revolutions of Mohandas Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair and Barack Obama were each driven by a simple, utterly compelling story.  The same is true of many of the great business successes, from Toyota to Apple Computer and Virgin Atlantic.  What unites these examples is the discontent, disenfranchisement or distress that went before.  In each case, their story was one of reaction to failure and hardship.  Narrative is not simply a luxury to be indulged in when times are good; it is the foundation of any collective effort to fight back against the toughest of challenges.’

Fighting Back has become a way of life at The Storytellers.  It has injected a new sense of invigoration and commitment amongst the team as we work hard to deliver against a clear plan of action, with regular updates and celebrations of success.  We are feeling positive and, dare-I-say it, bullish.

Do you have a clear vision and plan of how to tackle this recession?  Fight Back.  What’s your Story?