Storytelling in Business

“Having spent my life believing in the dream of reason, I was startled to find that an appropriately told story had the power to do what rigorous analysis couldn’t: to communicate a strange new idea and move people to enthusiastic action.” — Stephen Denning, author of The Leader’s Guide to Storytelling

Let’s continue to explore artistic processes as a means of inspiring and helping catapult you and your organization to positive business outcomes and a more inspiring work environment.  I’d like to examine here an art that is a regular practice in the business landscape, bringing it front and center for a deeper look: the art of storytelling.

Art and the City — An Actor’s Story

“New York!” he said. “That’s not a place, it’s a dream.” ― Ralph Ellison

Welcome back! Before we explore more about the intersection of art and business, I’d like to take a bit of a detour to explain why this concept speaks so loudly to me.

If you know me, you know how much I love a good story. I particularly like those that work as a tool to understand something better, help provide clarity or enlightenment, or reinforce a principle or idea. My story may give you a glimpse into how this blog’s concepts about work and art crept into being. So here goes.