How many times have you heard someone say, “That’s the way we’ve always done it”? Narratives like these suggest inevitability, and can inhibit change rather than inspire it. They can be deeply ingrained and difficult to challenge. But people remember stories more easily than numbers, and if told in the right way and with the right message, they can motivate action. If you want to transform your organization, start by challenging the stories you tell about the company and how it operates. Do some reinforce the negative? Create and share new, positive narratives that show the path to success and the elements that will get you there.
Adapted from “If You Don’t Like Your Future, Rewrite Your Past” by Rosabeth Moss Kanter.
