Storytelling at Work

Frame your work as a story to find its meaning.

We use a "Hero's Journey" template to help participants frame their work as an adventure, with detail on the mission, supporting characters, suspense and emotion.

Type

Exercise

Time

60 minutes

Group size

4-12 people

Best as

Group exercise

In depth

A little more detail.

Three people discussing colorful sticky notes on a transparent board in a teamwork session.

Using storytelling can be a powerful way to help people uncover the real meaning and purpose behind their work and actions, and thus reveal the culture and values that drive them. We can use a number of approaches here, to help workshop participants translate their everyday tasks or projects into more meaningful stories.

One example is the Hero’s Journey structure – as defined in Joseph Campbell’s book The Hero With A Thousand Faces – which features in thousands of popular novels and Hollywood movies.

By framing their projects and results in these terms, participants can see their work as truly heroic – and by analysing the journey they took, much more meaningful as well.

The exercise reveals new insights into the nature of people's work and the meaning they attach to it.

Outcomes

What you'll leave with.

Illustration of two people with orange backpacks viewed from behind, looking sideways and smiling.

When to use it

Use Storytelling at Work to help people uncover the meaning behind what they do. Framing their work through the Hero's Journey structure reveals the mission, characters and emotion in it, and the culture and values that drive them.

Illustration of a woman with orange hair holding a tablet and giving a thumbs up.

Use it when

A team wants to reconnect with the purpose in its work.
You want to surface the values beneath everyday tasks.
People would benefit from seeing their work in a new light.

Not the right tool when

The focus is defining shared team values directly. Use Work Values.
You want to celebrate the team rather than reflect. Use Team Celebration.

Used in

Workshops that feature this tool.

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Use it with your team

This tool works best in a well-facilitated room.

Using this tool with a skilled facilitator means that discussions are focused, time is used efficiently, and the group moves toward consensus, making the session productive and impactful.

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