9 Muse Story Recipes
Organizational story practitioners discover early in their work that there really aren't that many companies asking for help with storytelling. This is a painful realization, as it would be for anyone who discovers that the magic elixir they're selling isn't on the hearts and minds of everyone with a checkbook. But it's true. Many of the leaders I work with do not express a need for better stories, or more stories, or any stories at all. Some are even suspicious of story work.
What they ask for is something very different. They seek greater alignment. Deeper engagement (in the company and across their marketplace). Strategic alignment. Richer marketplace dialogue. The ability to manage change. The ability to archive the organization's deep wisdom. Influence. Relevance. Fire. That's what leaders are seeking.
Story is merely the way. It is the operating system that delivers an electric jolt of context and meaning that brings to life many of the most urgent imperatives of the organization.
What brings you to Circle of the 9 Muses? It may be that you are indeed looking for storytelling resources. (If so, welcome aboard, kindred spirit.) It is also likely that you have other outcomes in mind—with applications as diverse as branding, team development, change and strategy work, organizational development, and more. You're welcome here, too, as Circle of the 9 Muses is indeed a field guide, filled with ideas that can support you in your diverse leadership efforts.
In that spirit, the following recipe cards suggest opportunities for stringing together different 9 Muse resources in different combinations to achieve your desired outcomes.
A word about the recipe metaphor, because it is the nature of metaphor to reveal our hidden assumptions about the world. In my bayou upbringing just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana, a recipe is merely a suggestion, and a jumping-off point for experimentation. This has been a point of difference between my literal, rule-following wife and me. Oh, it says to add a clove a garlic? Why don't we add six cloves of garlic and also a half-teaspoon of cayenne pepper? And let's throw in some brown sugar and see what happens. The resources in Circle of the 9 Muses are infinitely configurable, and invite your tinkering. In that spirit, then, these are basic recipes; suggestions. You're welcome to give it a try as written, but rewards await those who are willing to throw in a little okra, shrimp, Tabasco, or whatever you have on hand until the outcome is uniquely yours.
And as always, please share your ideas! Write to me at [email protected]
Branding Recipes
I want to identify the unique voice of my product, service, or offering.
Use “Leadership Story Archetypes” to identify the unique “voice” of your offering and connect it to deeply felt human needs; host story circles around your values or use “Stories in Words” (from “Story Circle Variations”) to refresh connection to your mission statement. Seek your customers' insights via “The Client Sets the Frame” (also in “Story Circle Variations.”) Use “Story Element Extraction” to begin uncovering the deep meaning that is woven throughout your diverse stories.
I want to find stories that will engage my customers or marketplace.
Create occasions for story circles, and begin collecting the “4 Core Stories” of your work, including stories of “identity” and “values in action.” Use “Twice-Told Stories” so the group can begin to surface especially powerful stories together and also to begin creating a shared archive of stories. Explore “Digital Storytelling” for fresh ideas for bringing those stories to life.
I want to improve my “elevator pitch” or “About” page on my website
Use “Leadership Story Archetypes” to identify the unique voice of your offering. Modify the pitch to different audiences using “Story Carousel,” and use “Stories in Words” for new insights that come from the heart of your mission. (You will find both of those exercises in “Story Circle Variations”). Use the “Story Distilling” variation to start bringing the story down to its essence. Use “Capturing Fire” to begin improving the style, energy, and presentation dynamics of your story.
I want my constituents to be engaged and active in my offering.
Host story circles in which you invite constituents to share their stories (NOT to tell them to embrace your story!) Use the story listening and meaning making methods in “Summoning the Muse” to create shared and deepened awareness around each others' stories. “Digital Storytelling” suggests lots of opportunities for easily and inexpensively capturing your customers' stories so that you can begin connecting them to your story. Then use “Story Element Extraction” to begin identifying the core truths that unite all stories. Explore “Strategy is a Story” and consider rendering your story visually using a story map.
Team Building/Relationship Building Recipes
We are a new team and need to get to know each other.
Consider creating a third space occasion (perhaps in a retreat setting) and use “Twice-Told Stories” to create affiliation with the broader team story. Get to know each other with “Visual Timelines.” Use “Getting Personal” stories (from “Story Circle Variations”) to bring your “whole person” to the team. Use the “Visual Timeline” to share the unique journeys that led each of you to this shared place. Talk about the future you will create together using “Creative Tension Pictures.” Use “Leadership Story Archetypes” so each team member can explore his or her unique identity as the protagonist of their leadership story.
We are stuck in conflict.
Be especially mindful how you frame the dialogue using “Story Prompts.” Use “Creative Tension Pictures” for a powerful way to externalize the conflict with reduced defensiveness, and dialogue around the future you both desire. Host a story circle using a timeline (as described in “Fractal Narratives”) as a mining structure; be vigilant about reinforcing the ground rules (no disagreement;
respond to a story with a story.) For deep conflicts, consider the intervention of an external facilitator.
We are a strong team. Nothing is wrong. We just want to be even better.
Almost everything in Circle of the 9 Muses can help you! Be creative in establishing a third space or retreat for narrative work. Create multiple occasions for story circles; use “Fractal Narratives” to be more purposeful about creating the shared story and “Leadership Archetypes” for a penetrating conversation into the unique “voice” and strength of the team. Focus on future stories using “Creative Tension Pictures.”
I/my team needs inspiration, or to reconnect with my/our passion
Create a story circle and share your “Why I'm Here” stories. Tell “Stories in Words” to bring new energy to the mission. Tell “Twice-Told Stories” to connect individual stories to the bigger story you are living. Use the story listening and meaning making methods in “Summoning the Muse” to create shared and deepened awareness around each others' stories. Use “Creative Tension” pictures and make it a personal exercise: “Where I am today in my leadership” and “where I need to be.”
Leadership, Strategy, and Change Management Recipes
Things need to change around here. We need to create a shared understanding of where to go next.
Consider bringing a narrative flow to your strategy communications using “Strategy Is a Story,” or invite teams to help define the strategy by creating storyboards as described in “Strategy Is a Story” storyboarding. Ask each member of the team to draw “Creative Tension Pictures” as it relates to the change. Have them take turns describing “Here's how I see our current reality . . . and also our desired future state.” Use “Future Story Spine” to identify possible futures, and the paths that will take you there.
I want people to lead with agility when the way forward isn't clear.
Be prepared for future possibilities by using the “Future Story Spine.” Use the “Hero's Journey” (in “Fractal Stories”) to put the current stories in the context of the big picture story. Use “Creative Tension Pictures” to enable people to define their own unique visions for moving forward.
I have a big presentation coming up, and I want my audience to be blown away.
Consider your Four Core Stories for possible narratives that come from the heart of your leadership. Practice your stories with trusted colleagues using the harvester/witness construct in “Summoning the Muse.” Then spend time thinking through the structure of your story in the chapter “Capturing Fire.” (Hot tip: Look for opportunities to engage emotions as described in “The King and The Queen” section of “Capturing Fire.”)
Organizational Development Recipes
Actually, I'm one of those people who just wants more storytelling in my organization.
I like the way you think! Everything in Circle of the 9 Muses is game for your exploration, but you may want to begin with the basics: Host lots of Story Circles. Begin capturing the “Four Core Stories”; become skilled with “Story Prompts” and eliciting stories in effective ways; find multiple occasions for story circles, combined with larger metanarratives as laid out in the “Fractal Narratives.” Those are the building blocks. Start there, and begin exploring and branching out!
We are trying to become more innovative.
Have team members “Create Your Own Creativity Model” (from “Innovation Storyboarding”) for a deep discussion into the nature of creating in this team. Take a story field trip as described in “Step into a Story” for expansive thinking; then after you return to your organization use the “Innovation Storyboard,” for defining new offerings or rethinking current offerings.
We need a more cohesion/a shared identity/awareness of one another's roles.
Have members create story boards around a topic like “A Day in our Life.” (Ideas for designing this process can be found in “Storyboarding Frameworks.”) Then present your storyboards to one another for deeper shared awareness of one another's roles. Host an “Organizational Movie Night” with employee-created videos, as described in “Digital Storytelling.” Use Story Archetypes to identify the unique “voice” of your offering and connect it to deeply felt human needs. Host Story Circles around your values or using “Stories in Words” (from “Story Circle Variations”) to refresh connection to your mission statement.