How many of us have the vision, mission, values on every surface in our offices, cafeterias and even the bathroom stalls?
Ahh, but how many of us innovation leaders actively bring these foundational themes and stories into our work today when we’re busy looking forward to the future?
People, we are in volatile times. And in times of transformation, employees need more than directives—they need a sense of purpose. Grounding our innovation portfolios in our core values can create a cohesive line between the earth shaking events of today and the tomorrows we’re all working on.
You already know I’m going to tell you that storytelling is that bridge that grounds employees in order to connect to your vision and strategy and keeps teams aligned and motivated, even through the turbulence. [FYI, I’m writing this on a very bumpy flight from Orlando -> NYC so watch for more flight references 😵💫]
Innovation storying does more than communicate goals—it inspires pride and performance. When leaders like you share stories that resonate with their teams, you can build a shared narrative that drives action – because both of you are invested in the same future.
Take Nike’s internal diversity initiative [yes, I’m not afraid to use the D word]. By sharing stories of how diverse teams contributed to groundbreaking campaigns with Serena Williams and Simone Biles, Nike didn’t just communicate values—it inspired employees to embrace those values in their work.
How to Use Storytelling for Alignment:
- Connect to Values: Share stories that highlight how your organization’s and your department’s core values are being lived out in day-to-day work. Call out great team members, past and present, who lived those values.
- Re-evaluate the Mission: Highlight how your next breakthrough product, service or business model shift is grounded [see that?] in the vision and mission. If there’s a departure from the status quo to something radically different, call out a new core value that you’re adding to the old. For example, if quality was a virtue, but the market demands speed, tell your team that this new value is being added to the flight plan [hee-hee] and tell a story how both of these values can co-exist as you transition to new priorities.
- Make It Relatable: Ensure your stories address real challenges and aspirations your employees face, making the vision tangible.
As a changemaker and a catalyst, your job is to become an Innovation Storyteller, too. Storytelling transforms abstract goals into a shared journey, creating a culture where everyone is motivated to contribute to a shared future. Your job is to set them on that path.PS: Would very much like to tell the passive aggressive passenger behind who is kicking my seat back to get aligned with my core values, but I think that’s going to happen on a different flight. All airline decorum [or lack thereof] stories are welcome. Please share.
