Home ›› 01 Nov 2022 ›› Editorial
When asked about the classic fairy tale Cinderella, most of us here can give a detailed synopsis of the Disney Princess who with the help of her fairy godmother, triumphed over her evil stepmother, went to a ball, fell in love with a Prince, and lost her glass slipper all before midnight.
However, the last time that most of us have actually watched this film has been over a decade ago, so why is it still so fresh in our minds?
This is because storytelling is the most powerful and effective way to deliver a message. It is one of the first ways we are taught how to listen and learn as a human. Storytelling is used in many aspects of our life from bedtime stories, to Saturday morning cartoons, and even grade school and college. Storytelling is a creative and effective way for a message to reach an audience. But the impact of storytelling goes far past the walls of a classroom or box of a television screen. It can be used in your career to benefit to your business life as well.Storytelling is the act of telling or writing stories, or narratives. Typically, stories are told for entertainment, for informational purposes, or for educational purposes.Storytelling is universal to the human experience. Indeed, although it is likely impossible to prove, it has been suggested that storytelling developed not long after the development of language itself.We do know that all cultures have told stories. Some of the earliest evidence of stories comes from the cave drawings in Lascaux and Chavaux, France. The drawings, which date as far back as 30,000 years ago, depict animals, humans, and other objects. Some of them appear to represent visual stories. It is even possible that the scenes depicted on those cave walls were associated with some kind of oral storytelling.
Since our childhood, we have heard about Dharma (right way of living), Karma (deed or action), rebirth, soul, moksha (liberation). Debated to be millennia old, each chapter of Mahabharata brings forward a lesson that can reconstruct one's personal and professional life in Kalyug.1 . The Virtue of Sacrifice, Pledge, and Devotion:
Sacrifice, pledge, and devotion might sound like the easiest to follow but are the greatest virtue one can hold especially in the world of business. Devavrata aka Bhishma Pitamaha took the pledge of celibacy, sacrificing his 'crown-prince' title for his father Shantanu- the Kuru king of Hastinapura. When running a company you need to take decisions at a time that might not be best for you but will make others content. While it may not look like a wise decision then, you will get fruits of it. A man of integrity goes a long way in entrepreneurship; 2. The Long-Lasting Existence of Nepotism:
In Mahabharata Pandu was born weak, Dhritarashtra was blind, but it was Vidhur who was born with all qualities to be the king. Ved Vyasa pointed out how Vidhur would be the rightful king of Hastinapur. However, being born to a maid made him not worthy of the royal throne. This is the mistake we often repeat in real life. What is created by the father is passed on to the child. To sustain business - knowledge, skill, and merit is what matters. However, for most, it's the linage that holds the utmost importance. Your company is your responsibility, not your property. Every person from the ground level is responsible for its making. Your employees need a good leader not your biasedness towards your bloodline. These factors are the biggest hindrance to the growth graph; 3. The Power Struggle: Mahabharata wasn't just about two brother clans fighting for power. The story highlights powerful women fighting for recognisation, independence, individuality, and respect. The saga begins with Goddess Ganga goes on to three queens Kunti, Gandhari, and Draupadi. Each of these women were discrimination based on their origin. Women every day has to prove themselves. She is either objectified, spoken behind her back, if rising in the hierarchy her ability and hard work are questioned. She has to earn respect, while it is naturally given to men. Parchiachy still has a strong root in our society. Women always had to struggle to rise in power be it 4000 years ago or today; 4. Demonstration of Dharma: When Kunti returned to the Kingdom of Hastinapura after the death of King Pandu, she brought along five other contenders to the throne. While Dhritarashtra and his 100 Kaurav sons were not happy, it was the crowned King's moral duty to educate and give Pandavas their right. An entrepreneur often comes across such situations in their daily lives. You might not like certain people and their attitude but that shouldn't cloud your judgment. Everyone in your company is your family, everyone is connected. As an owner/leader you have to take everyone together and consider everyone the same. This is where the Sanskrit phrase, 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' comes into picture which means, "The World is One Family"; 5. The Want To Be Superior And Suppress Others
Everyone is born to fulfill a purpose. In Mahabharata, hierarchy, and superiority are highlighted throughout every chapter. Everyone isn't equal, a priest or a king were respected more than a solider or a charioteer. The biasedness and caste of merit unfortunately still exists in corporate culture. The ego to be on top is an indicator of wanting to suppress the weaker segment in an organisation. The lack of confidence and faith in your team often makes your fill small goals, enabling you to see a larger vision. The worst mistake entrepreneurs make is - be insecure about their ability and think highly of themselves.
6. The Big Fish Eating The Small Fish
The Kauravas had set the Pandavas place on fire, which was an assassination attempt. In Mathura, Kansa had overthrown the elected representatives and becoming the King. Some years later Krishna killed Kansa, only to face the wrath of King Jarasandha (father-in-law of Kansa) who burnt Mathura to the ground. What's amazing is how the people in power often let hatred and cruelty take over. An Entrepreneur must shelter, protect, and look after his employees who are working for him. It is also essential to understand when doing something sinful, you are digging your own grave.
Stories are effective educational tools because listeners become engaged and therefore remember. Storytelling can be seen as a foundation for learning and teaching. While the storylistener is engaged, they are able to imagine new perspectives, inviting a transformative and empathetic experience. This involves allowing the individual to actively engage in the story as well as observe, listen and participate with minimal guidance. Listening to a storyteller can create lasting personal connections, promote innovative problem solving and foster a shared understanding regarding future ambitions. The listener can then activate knowledge and imagine new possibilities. Together a storyteller and listener can seek best practices and invent new solutions. Because stories often have multiple layers of meanings, listeners have to listen closely to identify the underlying knowledge in the story. Storytelling is used as a tool to teach children the importance of respect through the practice of listening.
Storytelling has been an integral part of the human culture and history. It has been used to share and interpret experiences through times immemorial, whether through spoken words of travelers, cave drawings, books, or any other medium. Religion as such, could not have survived through the centuries without this embedded culture among all known civilizations. This intimate relationship between religion and storytelling allowed the stories to be passed through generations and stay alive in our collective conscience. These stories come with a lesson, experience, or some entertainment, and they usually have an element of creativity and often an element of surprise as well. Through one or more of these elements, it connects with the audience and gives them something to think about.
Some of the most successful companies in the world use storytelling very intentionally as a leadership tool. Organizations like Microsoft, Motorola, Saatchi & Saatchi, Procter & Gamble, NASA, and the World Bank are among them. They do this in several ways.The short answer is that storytelling is useful in far more situations than most leaders realise. The five most commonly used are probably these: inspiring the organisation, setting a vision, teaching important lessons, defining culture and values, and explaining who you are and what you believe.
Storytelling has the power to engage, influence, teach and inspire listeners. That’s why we argue for organisations to build a storytelling culture and place storytelling at the heart of their learning programmes. There’s an art to telling a good story, and we all know a good story when we hear one. But there’s also a science behind the art of storytelling.
The writer is MD and CEO of Community Bank. He can be contacted at masihul1811@gmail.com
