The Power of Stories in Creating Organizational Inclusion.
“When we share our stories, loudly and clearly and honestly,
As humans, we seek stories to connect ourselves to our pasts, presents, and futures. We seek inspiration from stories of hope, success and growth. We want to know how and where we fit in. “When we share our stories, loudly and clearly and honestly, things begin to change - for the better.“ - Lily Allen.
Storytelling has always been an important way of passing the baton to the next generation. Traditionally told by the eldest members of the family or tribe, they had value or meaning that would impact their people. Times have changed somewhat, and we now look all around us to find the stories that are relevant to us. This applies not only to our personal lives but to our professional lives too. Sometimes even more.
Really, storytelling in the workplace?
We may not notice it, but stories are being told all around us, all the time. These stories are the building blocks of our inclusive workplace culture. They are intrinsic to our everyday work lives. We hear about leaders who change standard practices to create a more robust workforce or the person who worked their way from the tearoom to the top. We like to hear and share these stories because they motivate and inspire us. A sitting around the proverbial fire, if you will, to glean from those who have gone before us.
But what has this got to do with I&D?
Over the last two years, Inclusion and Diversity practices have hit an all-time high. In fact, we have found that many organizations are doubling down on diversity metrics. We are proud of our accomplishments and want to measure what matters. We want to track things like workforce demographics, diversity hiring, retention, promotion rates, and utilization of diversity, equity, and inclusion resources. We want to show where we have grown, attract new talent, and keep our teams happy. Measuring diversity certainly has its place, but it is not enough when we are trying to create inclusive environments, environments with heart. We know that numbers do not inspire change. Showing statistics has the opposite effect on what we are trying to achieve; a culture where people can comfortably bring their authentic selves to work, work to suit them and know their value.
It is people and their stories who create change. In their article in the Harvard Business Review, Selena Rezvani and Stacey A. Gordon ascertained that “we can make actual progress on inclusion by implementing a story-based approach where employees are encouraged to tell their stories, own them, and consider how they impact their day-to-day experiences at work”.
Storytelling is the heart of inclusion.
By allowing, hearing and responding to their stories, we show our people that they are accepted and belong because of who they are. We remove the perceived boxes of organizational culture and open space for individuals to shine.
“When people hear stories that feel representative, it creates a vehicle for nuanced conversations, which are what truly drive change. Stories invite perspective-taking: the concept of standing in someone else’s shoes and imagining what it’s like to be them. “
Storytelling is a vastly underutilized inclusion tool. When we come face-to-face with the humans behind the stories, we connect with inclusive leaders and teams on a more personal level. Sharing stories and hearing the perspectives of others encourages us to respond without prejudice. Authenticity and transparency permit us to let our guard down and disbar the false perception that we can’t bring our true selves to work.
Our biases tell us that storytelling is a soft organizational skill. Au contraire. Storytelling is vital. It is the heart of inclusion, and inclusion is the heart of the organization. For too long, we have based our I&D practices on data and numbers alone. It is time to become human-centric, to make inclusion about people. By sharing stories, we have the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of the people around us. We gain the tools to champion change and emerge more robust, more focused, and better able to perform as individuals, teams, and organizations.
At Inclusionem, we are passionate about Inclusive Storytelling and would love to partner with you in creating stories that inspire change within your teams and organization.
If you want to know more about our Inclusive Storytelling services, click here.
Inclusionem is a global Diversity and Inclusion Consultancy based in Dubai. We specialize in measuring inclusion, diversity and inclusion strategy, inclusive leadership training programs and inclusive communication. Our diversity and inclusion consultants create an impact daily and help to build inclusive organizations in Dubai, the Middle East and all over the world.
