Although storytelling is not a new concept, organizations are now realizing the power of stories, especially when told through “authentic narratives.” In this session, we focus on three areas in support of this idea.  First, we explain why storytelling is an important influence strategy that is worthy of development in today’s leaders (i.e., “the why”).  Second, to begin to develop the skills of those attending, we preview some of the techniques individuals can use to be better storytellers (i.e., the “how”).  Third, we discuss how participants can bring storytelling back to their own organizations and make storytelling a part of the culture (i.e., the “what’s next”).  Participants in the session will grow their skills in using inspirational storytelling to advance organizational strategy, engage employees, transfer organizational knowledge/educate others, and build relationships. They will also learn about and discuss methodologies to help grow the storytelling skills of others. A long-term organizational case study is featured to illustrate how storytelling can be used for cultural and behavior change.

Presenters

Senior Consultant
Anthony (Tony) Rogers
Right Management

Anthony (Tony) Rogers is a senior consultant in the talent management practice of Right Management where he serves as a subject matter expert for inclusive and safety leadership, offering 25 years’ experience as a consultant, psychologist, coach, organizational leader, and business executive. His experience spans clinical and business settings and ranges from work with children and families to executive teams of Fortune 100 companies.

He specializes in leadership development with an emphasis on inclusion, cross cultural competence, collaboration, and safety culture. His experience covers a diverse range of companies and industries, with a primary focus on energy, where he has designed and delivered storytelling programs to shape cultures of safety. He is the creator of Right Management’s popular and effective Communication Gear model that is in world-wide use.

Tony holds a BA in Economics from Rice University and PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin.  He completed a residency and fellowship in behavioral medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio. He is the author of Talking Toward Truth: Inspiring New Options Through Dialogue published in 2018.

Intended Audience

Intermediate. Solid understanding of the basic concepts covered in this learning program is assumed and may not be discussed or only discussed briefly in this learning program. Intended for someone with some experience in this content area.  The session is intended for I-O professionals and HR practitioners who are interested in storytelling as an important leadership skill that can be developed in a purposeful way. Some background in leadership development, learning theory, and learning program design would be helpful to put the skills and applications into practical context.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify at least two arguments to include in a business case for storytelling as an important strategy for shaping desired behavior.
  • Construct your own personal narrative (1 story) using the steps learned in this program for creating powerful personal narratives.
  • Identify at least one situation in which stories can be used to shape behavior and foster change within an organization.
  • Identify at least one situation in which it is appropriate to implement a storytelling development program.
  • Explain the process of building a culture of storytelling in your organization.

Topic

2025 Annual Conference

Date

April 4, 2025

Time

2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Delivery Type

In-Person

Certification Type

Continuing Education (CE)

Workshop Coordinator

Miriam Nelson, Korn Ferry