Appreciative Storytelling in 4 Parts
It can be tough for team members who live in the day-to-day reality of their work to easily articulate their organization's core purpose. As a remedy, some companies use elevator pitches—short, concise explanations of what they do—to reconnect employees with their mission. Elevator pitches might work for the speaker, but often fail to engage the listener.
A more impactful approach is appreciative storytelling, which benefits both the speaker and the listener. The storytelling format follows the hero’s journey, popularized by Joseph Campbell. This narrative structure highlights an organization's purpose AND captivates the audience. The hero's journey unfolds in four parts:
Context - Introduce the setting and the hero.
Challenge - Present the quest and the villain.
Victory - Detail how the hero overcomes the challenge, defeats the villain and accomplishes the mission.
Homecoming - Describe the hero's return and the new context.
To illustrate, let's use a familiar story—Star Wars.
Context
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, our hero, a young farm boy named Luke Skywalker, lived on the desert planet of Tatooine.
Challenge
Luke discovers a hidden message from Princess Leia, revealing the secret plans of the villainous Darth Vader and his doomsday weapon, the Death Star. Luke's quest begins as he joins forces with allies to rescue the Princess and return her and the Death Star plans to the heroic Rebel Alliance.
Victory
Through courage and teamwork, Luke and his companions destroy the Death Star and send Darth Vader spinning off into space.
Homecoming
Luke returns from battle as a celebrated hero of the Rebel Alliance’s purpose. The galaxy, though still in turmoil, has a new hope.
By framing your narrative through the hero’s journey, you create a compelling and inspiring story that resonates with both internal and external audiences.
Ready to craft your organization’s hero’s journey? Connect with Lizard Brain today. We’ve helped everyone from Volunteers of America to Georgetown University to MedStar Health to the Department of the Army tell their hero’s journey. Refine your story and uncover your true purpose.