Society for Storytelling

Using Traditional Stories

There are times when a well chosen traditional story can reach into the heart of the issue. Here are some examples.

Storytelling And The Power Of Self Reflection
I coached a senior manager who never stopped to think. He stormed through life, from meeting to meeting, handing out his instructions, pushing people, never delegating, never relaxing, never giving praise, as hard on himself as he was on those working for him.
As we worked together, he told me about his hard management style and its origins in his life experience, his life story. I mirrored his story back to him. He told me how he managed his sons’ football team in the same way, and was shocked to realise how hard he was on his own sons, always pushing them, never giving praise. How hard on himself.
When I spoke about being self-reflective in his work, he had no idea what I was talking about. This is a story I used with him.

In China, in the days of the mandarins, there was a young artist named Tao Zu, reputed to be the finest up-and-coming artist in the land. The Emperor of China wanted a drawing of a crab. He approached the young artist. Tao Zu, on hearing the request, accepted the commission, saying he needed a large country house, twelve servants and five years in order to complete the drawing. These were granted.
After five years the Emperor visited Tao Zu. The drawing had not been made. “I need another five years with the country house and the twelve servants,” said the young artist. This was granted.
Another five years went by and again the Emperor visited. Tao Zu took a piece of parchment and a pen with black ink, and in a flourish drew the most perfect crab that had ever been seen.

One day he rang me in great excitement, “I’ve learnt how to be self-reflective,” he said. Subsequently, when he was promoted to regional director, he told me how essential it was to be self-reflective and considerate of others, and said, “I couldn’t do this job without a team of self-motivated decision takers working for me.”
Storytelling And Attitudes
Having right relationships with others is crucial to healthy organisational life. Here is a story I use about our attitudes to other people:

There was once a traveller journeying from one village to the next, when he met an old saddhu sitting by the roadside.
“What are the people like in the next village?” the traveller asked the saddhu. “Well,” replied the saddhu, “what were they like in the last village?” “They were unfriendly, surly, uncooperative and greedy,” said the traveller. “You’ll find they are much the same in the next village,” said the saddhu.
A short time later, another traveller journeyed along the same road. Meeting the saddhu, he asked, “What are the people like in the next village?” “Well,” replied the saddhu, “what were they like in the last village?” “They were friendly, pleasant natured, cooperative and generous,” said the traveller. “You’ll find they are much the same in the next village,” said the saddhu.