A good manager will take the time to help her people grow by teaching and coaching them. Stories of your own experiences, or teachable points of view, are a great way to do this. Cohen and Tichy (1997) define teachable points of view as tools used by leaders to help them convey their experiences to others. Leaders combine ideas, values, edge, and energy to develop their points of view, so that they can teach by telling their stories and sharing their opinions. Stories are a great way to communicate because they can be memorable, personal, and evoke emotions.
Stories have been a part of our lives since we were children, and they’re all around us long after we grow up in forms of books, television, music, and theatre. Their familiar form makes us naturally receptive to them. As you’re coaching others to help them grow and develop, use stories to do the job. Think of stories that you’ve heard someone else tell. Why did each story stay with you? What was the point or moral of the story? Now think of some stories that you’ve told. What kind of reactions did you get? Were you able to convey whatever point you wanted to get across? Use your stories to get a message across; use them to teach and inspire; use them to improve the results of your managing efforts.
Cohen, E., & Tichy, N. (1997). How leaders develop leaders. Training & Development Journal, 51, p. 58-72.
