What do identify and engage have in common?
Pretty much, I’d say.
The individual who identifies values, purposes, and principles, of her manager is most likely positively engaged. Identification presumes authenticity. Authenticity promotes engagement.
So? How does a manager ramp up that identification?
With the stories that authenticate you. Stories that reveal your purpose, your commitment, your principles, your values. Stories that illustrate your person, persona, and personality.
Too often managers and employees are so focused on "the job" that’s all that enters their conversation. Consciously invite story-sharing into your workplace and you can generate:
- Awareness and appreciation of one another
- Trust among team members
- Mutual respect and credibility throughout the office
- Confidence in communicating
- Interest beyond "the job"
- More…
The best place to start is with your own, personal stories. Once you are comfortable finding (or creating) opportunities in which to share your story, your staff will begin to seek (and create) opportunities to do the same.
It’s only natural. Humans are, by nature, story-sharing beings. And everyone has a life’s worth to share.
Here are three tips to help you select and sharpen your stories, for the good of engagement among you and your people.
What is the point? Every story does three things: entertains, educates, and enlightens. Consider what entertainment, what education, and what enlightenment you want your story to provoke. This will assist you in recalling events and experiences from your life and selecting the ones that contribute to the points (entertainment, education, enlightenment) you wish your stories to make.
What details matter? Spend time considering your story’s details: details that clearly and emphatically support the point A too-short story is always better than one that goes on and on. And on. Too many details can weigh down a story. Select the details that are directly relevant to your story.
Why wait to tell your story? OK. You do want to tell your story at the right time and place. But do not postpone for perfection. The sooner you share your story, the sooner it will improve and you will improve in sharing it. There’s no better story-improvement tool than just telling the story. You have the option of asking someone to hear your story and give you feedback. And you can just tell it and see how it gets better with each telling.
Want to know more about the power and pleasure of story sharing?
Check out my Make Magic with Stories teleseminar.
Tags: authenticity, Communication, employee, engagement, manager
