We've never done it this way before: Prompting organizational change through stories

Abstract Organizations have discovered that storytelling is a powerful change management tool for addressing the emotional issues that have torpedoed many an initiative. Leaders from five businesses discuss how stories finally enabled employees and other stakeholders to get on board with major change efforts. The cases include organizations that used metaphors to create a common team vision, a road map for new business strategy, and the future vision for a massive high tech merger, as well as leaders who used personal stories to convey the essence of a difficult business issue for a skeptical audience. This article is reprinted from the book, Wake Me Up When the Data Is Over: How Organizations Use Stories to Drive Results , by Lori L. Silverman (Jossey‐Bass, 2006) © 2006 John Wiley & Sons.