Story Telling

'Peter is a storyteller and shaman who is able to draw people into his story. Within the story they find permission to say the unsayable and hear the unhearable both from themselves and their colleagues.'

You can almost guarantee the attention of any audience by simply saying 'once upon a time' or 'let me tell you a story'. There is something hard-wired into our collective memory that demands the presence of stories. Good leaders know this and develop their skills as a storyteller.

For centuries storytellers carried the history and the consciences of their people. At times of great celebration, transition or even mourning, they would tell a tale which gave their people the tools to deal with the extraordinary events of the day. In the story the listener could integrate the important lessons he or she personally needed to learn, without drama, without humiliation and without embarrassment.

A modern leader can do the same. To learn the skills of the storyteller is to learn how to move peoples' spirit. It carries with it real responsibility because once misused it can never be used again. Used properly, the story touches deep into the heart and brings out the best in a person. They are reminded of the courage they once felt as a child, of the daring they once had or dreamed of, of the possibility of overcoming the impossible, and of the rewards of persistence, teamwork and knowledge.

Peter Neall has been a storyteller for more than 30 years and especially loves the wonder tales of old Russia. He is closely connected with the recently established Centre for Narrative Leadership and is a long-standing member of The Society for Storytellers.

He has used story whilst training to give people courage to undertake difficult projects; to find the special qualities in a team working together; to remind a long-standing project group that giving up was not an option. What would your story be?

In finding the story of yourself, your people and your organisation, you uncover a richness of experience and ability that is only hinted at in normal work.

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