Audio Blog: Stories At Work
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At some point, we are going to do a couple of podcasts, perhaps 10, 20, 30, I don't know, regarding culture in the workplace. A big part of culture at the workplace is stories we tell one another.
I read a "Harvard Business Review article" a while ago, it may have been over a year ago, in which companies were decrying the fact that employees weren't speaking up. They weren't responding to requests for information or feedback about how things are going.
And the article basically says, "Sometimes employees fear speaking up because there is a perception, maybe not reality, but there is a perception that the organization, managers in particular, were genuinely hostile about past suggestions or recommendations for change, which imply that something is wrong."
And basically, they held back because there were broad and sort of vague perceptions about this and no one could really point to anything specific necessarily. And basically what it boiled down to was a culture is built, at least partially, on stories and on collective story telling. And the problem, folks, is that stories that get told are always dramatic. You don't tell anybody about going to the copier and making a copy successfully.
Stories at work are like news in our lives. The news is famous for saying, "We don't report every plane that lands safely" and while you may agree or disagree with what news gets covered and why, the fact is, news is dramatic and stories are dramatic. And if you are going to tell a story about someone, for example the fact that somebody got promoted. Unusually if someone tells a story about getting promoted, it is about carping that he got promoted or she got promoted and I didn't.
A good example would be, somebody says something in a public organizational venue, at a meeting in town hall or something, and as somebody put it afterwards, "he spoke up and suddenly he was gone from the company shortly thereafter."
It is probably not entirely true, this story, or he may have left on his own. But it doesn't matter - the story goes around and that gets into people's genes, which basically says "Don't speak up, don't talk, don't respond to requests for information." In part, because my boss has a hat on in his head, or a sign on his forehead that says "Watch out I am your boss, I could fire you".
If you are a leader, if you are a manager, be careful of the stories you tell. I am sure I can't convince you to not tell any negative stories, but I can suggest: please consider telling positive stories every once in a while to add it to the myth-making that your employees do about your company.
I meant Unfortunately I cannot afford
I meant Unfortunately I cannot afford to do a MBA.Thanks
M&M,Keep up the excellent work. I am
M&M,Keep up the excellent work. I am requesting podcasts on equipping managers with some FINANCE EDUCATION podcasts, budgetting etc..I am in IT sector and a technical person. I am sure there are lot like me who would like to gain more knowledge about other functions like sales,marketting etc...I think at some point a Leader needs to know all functions to be effectively lead an organization. I definitely aspire to be one and want to learn all the skills. Unfortunately I can afford to do a MBA.Thanks
Darren, Would love to see if we can
Darren,
Would love to see if we can work something out. Can you email me at michael AT manager-tools.com to continue the conversation?
thanks,
Mike
Hi Mike and Mark, I am a big fan of
Hi Mike and Mark,
I am a big fan of your podcasts. Your stuff is just so usable and easy to understand... I'm now encouraging my staff to subscribe as well.
I went to college in the states (first to NMMI in Roswell, then finished up my degree at CSU - Colorado).
In 1996 I co-founded an ad agency / consultancy firm and we're doing great (as far as reputation and skills attracting are concerned). Our finances are reasonable, but our formal structures are lacking. We've grown organically and now are at a size that it's apparent we're needing to bring in more systems.
Problem is, we're based in Zimbabwe and (as many people outside of North America) obviously can't make your Conferences (mainly due to cost challenges), so I was wondering how possible it would be to get you both here to Zim (possibly in a nice tourist venue like the Vic Falls Hotel & Safari Lodge) to do a themed conference ... something along the lines of "Managing through challenging times" or "Innovating in adversity".
I believe I'd be able to get some corporate sponsorship behind such an event (we handle a large number of big corporate clients). The target market would be approximately 50 guests from Harare and the rest from South Africa (mainly Johannesburg).
If this is something that sounds feasible (or if you just want to come see the Vic Falls and go on a fully paid 5 star African safari) - I'd be honored to put something together for you and your families whenever suits you.
Hey, I really found your "Making Decisions Effective" absolutely brilliant. We've always subscribed to a similar idea... Ideas are nothing without Action, Action is nothing without Results.
Take care and hope to hear back from you when you get a chance.
Darren Thompson, MD, AfricaAD
Charlie- We're honored, and we'll do
Charlie-
We're honored, and we'll do our best to be worthy of your trust.
Mark
Hi Mike & Mark; I am sending three
Hi Mike & Mark;
I am sending three people to your Atlanta conference. Please do take care of them. I am a bit fan of your podcast, and buys into your process and rigor.
Charlie Cheng, CEO, Kilopass
Sure do. HBR, May 2007, Forethought
Sure do.
HBR, May 2007, Forethought Section (front of the magazine), "Why Employees are Afraid To Speak", by James R. Detert and Amy C. Edmondson. Starts on Page 23.
:-)
Mark
Mark (or anyone...) Do you have a
Mark (or anyone...)
Do you have a name/title of the article you referenced from HBR on why employees remain silent? My organization is going through a strategic planning process and the very topic is rearing its head.
I searched through HBR with my subscription credentials and my search-fu is not good today.
Thanks.
Message received. Let me add that
Message received. Let me add that sometimes it also isn't the telling of the story that created the culture, it was the original action. I have personally seen someone end their career at a company by being galactically stupid and publically questioning a more senior manager know to be intolerant of being challenged. The effect is absolutely deadly to a company when this happens. I still keep tabs on this company and they have not been living up to performance because of this individual. The culture isn't from a story.
Greg- We LOVE despair.com! I have
Greg-
We LOVE despair.com! I have one of their posters:
Motivation: if all it takes is a pretty picture to motivate you, you probably have an easy job. One that will be done by robots soon."
THAT is DARK humor!
Mark
Please visit
Please visit http://despair.com/stories.html to see what some people think about company story telling.
- Greg
Peter- Well done. And, I catch
Peter-
Well done. And, I catch myself as well. That's the first step - catching oneself in an ineffective (and soon to be old) habit.
Cheers,
Mark
I hear what you're saying Mark! Every
I hear what you're saying Mark! Every now and then (maybe it should be more often!) I catch myself, and stop myself from telling a negative story or even giving air time (i.e. listening to) someone else's negative story.
My current place of employment seems to frown on the positive and uplifting - it's a "blokey" environment (Australian for male dominated) and telling positive stories is seen as weak.
I'm not in a position of role authority, so much of my effectiveness is though influence. I've recently made a point of telling positive stories about other employees going the extra mile - hopefully some of it might start to stick!
-- Peter