From the course: Shane Snow on Storytelling

Creating a culture of storytelling

From the course: Shane Snow on Storytelling

Creating a culture of storytelling

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- Storytelling can transform the way teams, partnerships, and companies work together for the better. Research shows that people who are different than each other, who tell stories, who engage in sharing their own stories break down barriers and build bridges, even if they might be disconnected. Here are a few things you can do to build a culture of storytelling. First, stock your teams with interesting stories. People's own unique story, their background becomes an important proxy for diversity of thought. Our perspectives, the approaches we solve problems with, they come from our stories, from our past experiences, so look for those things when you're trying to build a team. Also, look for stories as answers to interview questions. Use stories to answer questions yourself. A story of how someone solved a problem or how someone did something is going to be much more effective at getting at who they are and how they think than simply them telling you the answer to a problem. Finally, encourage people to share their stories with each other if they're on a team together. That will build trust and openness and, for those who are a little more shy, bravery to speak up. We can get to know people through their stories and through sharing our own story better than any other way. Great stories build relationships and make people care. This can change the way you work, the way you live, and the way you connect with people. Great stories can even change the world. I know that we all have great stories to tell, so let's tell them.

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