The Power of Stories
by Eric Klein
Next time you are at a party try this. Walk up to a group of people and tell a real life "Dilbert" story - a workplace experience when you ran headlong into the wall of bureaucratic foolishness; a close encounter with policies so surreal that you can only disclaim, "I am not making this up!" Then be quiet. Listen to the outpouring as person after person recounts their own version of the same story.
Human life is composed of stories. From prehistoric cave fires to contemporary cubicles, we define our life together through the stories we tell. Our stories do not merely report the past. They shape the future. In the beginning we tell our stories - in the end our stories define us.
The late mythologist Joseph Campbell discerned, through his study of world traditions, that beneath their surface variety, the stories of the world share a common sub-structure. An infinite variety of tales are built from a handful of primal themes.
Frederico Fellini, the great film maker, found himself, one night, in an amazing dream. Colorful, rich , deep. Even while asleep he told himself, "This is the most amazing love story I have ever imagined. It will make a cinematic masterpiece." As the dream came to an end, Fellini roused himself and quickly outlined the story on the writing tablet that he kept at his bedside for just such nocturnal inspirations. The next morning, the great director awoke refreshed but with all details of the dream forgotten. Relieved to have made those night time notes he reached for the writing tablet. There, to his dismay, read, "Boy meets girl." All the tablet offered was the primal theme - the eternal story stripped of all details.
The stories we tell at work also arise from primal themes. Consider the popularity of Dilbert. Beneath the thousands of cartoon dialogue balloons is the single story of the victim. On the surface - its funny. But at a another level this cynical story kills the soul.
What is the story that you tell about your work? Is it a tale of cynicism? Or a heroic tale of creation? Are the stories in your workplace tales of misunderstood victims or of inspired adventurers? Do the stories you and your co-workers tell reinforce a world of dull routine or open you to the exploration of uncharted territory? Is your story one of struggle and frustration or one of learning and growth?
If you were to design the story of your work what would you say?
What is the story that your soul wants to bring to life in your work?
Start telling this story to yourself. Remembering, to tell yourself this soul-filled story is the beginning of creating a new world of work.
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