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Bringing alive the purpose of change

Use of creative storytelling in transformational leadership

Rachel Salter & Beth Anderson

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”

George Bernard Shaw

ProductivityIncreased ability to cope

with stress

What do we know about motivation?

Positive emotion

Frederickson, 1998, 2001 Salvatore et al, 2006

Challenge

Control

“The only constant is change.”

Heraclitus

• Increasing control can involve making small changes

• Understanding individual motivation is critical

• Recognise the need to ‘tell the story’

What does the future look like?

• Hindrance pressures act as barriers to change • Need to articulate vision for change in terms of

benefit to real people • Voice of the citizen or service-user is powerful

How can we lead others through creative transformation?

While 37% of leaders believed their organisations regularly delivered benefits from change, only 5% of

middle management agreed with them (Moorhouse Consulting)

Storytelling: a tool for transformational leadership

Storytelling: a tool for transformational leadership

• Two people on each table to be storytellers • They should identify a change that’s predominantly

being driven by efficiency • Their task is re-tell that story so they make a case for

change based on how it will deliver benefits for people• Bring in the voice of the service-user if you can

• 10 minutes: prepare, tell & listen, listeners to feedback – What would strengthen their case for change? – What would make it more inspirational?

• We’ll let you know when it’s the next storyteller’s turn…

Feedback

• Storytellers: what did it feel like to frame the case for change in that way?

• Listeners: tips for making the case for change more inspirational?