We can shape the stories that shape us

In every moment, stories shape and focus every aspect of our lives and impact why and how we take action. Being a Story Leader means cultivating a new practice of actively choosing how you live and work with stories. Stories stop being what defines you, the system or situation, and become an ally for transformation. You become intentional about the stories you choose to activate.

The combination of Story, Questions and Hosting is a powerful change agent. STORY creates a compelling vision. QUESTIONS open the door to what the new story might be. HOSTING invites people together to bring the story to life. Together they build the capacity for self-responsibility, participatory leadership and committed action. It's all about activating agency.

Stories are always at work

Storytelling is a human superpower. We create sense and meaning in any situation and hold it in story form.

So if you imagine  a vibrant stand of forest and then dip into the soil, you will see all the trees connected by the mycelium. This is the "woodwide web" of trees and how they share information and nutrients.

Now picture a group of people, living or working together. They also have an 'innernet." They also are connected by a mycelium, but it consists of stories. Stories hold the information we share between us, but also the nutrients that impact the health and vitality of our community.

 Sometimes we need to stop telling stories that don't help us. We need to keep telling the stories that do help and support us. And we also need to start telling stories that will help us co-create the most vibrant future for all.

We start by discovering and cultivating the STORY we want to bring to life.

Anyone can be a Story Leader

We talk about stereotyping, but in reality, we are all story-o-typers. We see people situations and outcomes through the lens of our story. Changing our stories about something is a powerful act. The capacity to work with STORIES is key in creating transformational change and the ability to thrive in complexity.

A Story Leader is engaged in the art and practice of using story for positive systemic shift and for focusing collective intelligence on the critical issues of our times. 

It is the stories we decide to pay attention to -- the ones we activate -- that lead us into the future. Which stories keep us stuck? Where can story help us to move first to common ground, and from there, to higher ground? What stories can help us to create our most flourishing future together?

Building a capacity for working with the STORIES we find ourselves in is a foundational move towards the future we want to live in.

Hosting is how we activate stories

Once we know what stories we want to activate, then bringing collective power to bear is what helps us to live into them. How you engage people builds the energy to kickstart change. When people participate, they begin to own and live the story and together you create results that keep working long after the first meeting is over.

HOSTING creates the foundation for cohesion, commitment and direction. We work alongside you to create the capacity for people to host the conversations that matter and take wiser action together. Building skills in participatory practice creates leaders everywhere and brings your story to life.