Squirrel Inc : A Fable of Leadership Through Storytelling

by Denning, Stephen

• ISBN13: 9780787973711
• ISBN10: 0787973718
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-06-10
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

Take a satirical scamper through organizational life in the midst of changing times, brought to you by master storyteller and former World Bank executive Steve Denning. With wisdom and a healthy dose of wit, Denning introduces a cast of furry characters who together learn the fine art of change through storytelling in their quest to overcome obstacles, generate enthusiasm and teamwork, share knowledge, and ultimately lead their company into a new era of success and significance. Through the stories of "Squirrel Inc., readers will learn that the ability to tell the right story at the right time can determine the outcome of any major change effort. In each chapter Denning's squirrels learn to use storytelling to address leadership challenges: How to bring about change How to communicate who you are How to transmit values How to foster collaboration How to stop rumors How to share knowledge How to lead your organization into the future

Author Biography

<b>Stephen Denning</b> is a private consultant specializing in knowledge management and organizational storytelling. His clients include GE, IBM, Shell, McDonald&#8217;s, and the U.S. Army, among others. He is the author of the acclaimed book, <i>The Springboard: How Storytelling Ignites Action in Knowledge-Era Organizations</i>.

Table of Contents

PREFACE	xiii
The author explains the purpose of the book and the process by which it came to be written.
PART ONE
1 Squirrel Inc.: How to Craft a Story to Spark Organizational Change	3	(22)
Diana is an up-and-coming executive at Squirrel Inc., an organization in decline. She seeks guidance from a bartender on how to persuade the organization to change. She learns, in nine steps, how to craft a story to communicate a complex idea and spark action.
2 Diana Tells Her Story: How to Perform the Story to Spark Change	25	(16)
After initial success with her story at Squirrel Inc., Diana returns to seek further guidance from the bartender on how to enhance the performance of her story.
PART TWO
3 Save Squirrel Inc. Night: Seven Types of Organizational Storytelling	41	(8)
After the success of her story with the managing committee of Squirrel Inc., Diana joins employees to explore other ways in which storytelling can help address the challenges the firm is facing.
4 Whyse's Story: How to Use Storytelling to Reveal Who You Are and Build Trust	49	(10)
Whyse shows how storytelling can enhance communication in corporate environments by communicating who you are.
5 Hester's Story: How to Use Storytelling to Get Individuals to Work Together	59	(10)
Hester shows how storytelling can be used to get individuals working together. She present five steps to craft a story for nurturing a community.
6 Mark's Story: How to Use Storytelling to Transmit Values	69	(10)
Mark shows how stories that are told and retold in a organization, particularly about the organization's leaders, transmit the organization's values.
7 Mocha's Story: How to Use Storytelling to Tame the Grapevine	79	(10)
Mocha shows how humor can be used to harness the power of the informal network of communication in an organization and to tame the grapevine by neutralizing rumors and bad news.
8 Howe's Story: How to Use Storytelling to Share Knowledge	89	(12)
Howe shows how the sharing of knowledge takes place through a particular kind of narrative.
9 Sandra's Story: How to Use Storytelling to Create a Future	101	(14)
Sandra shows how future stories-visions, business models, scenarios-help organizations move into the future. Meanwhile Howe reveals some unexpected developments within Squirrel Inc.
10 Howe Upsets the Acorns: How Individuals and Organizations React to Change	115	(12)
The discussion in the bar now turns to what will happen next at Squirrel Inc. Will the old way of doing business triumph? Or will Squirrel Inc. carry through with the change? The characters explore these and other possibilities.
PART THREE
11 The Journey of a Leader: Staying Alive Through the Dangers of Leadership	127	(16)
As the continuing tale of Squirrel Inc. unfolds, the characters encounter a variety of surprises and Diana goes on a journey.
12 The Return to Squirrel Inc.: Living the Story as Well as Telling It	143	(7)
We learn the impact of storytelling on Squirrel Inc. and on Diana herself.
Seven High-Value Forms of Organizational Storytelling	150	(5)
The nature, form, and purpose of seven high-value kinds of organizational storytelling are compared, in a table.
NOTES	155	(14)
FURTHER READING	169	(8)
WRITE TO THE AUTHOR	177	(2)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS	179	(2)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR	181