The Corporate Storyteller

Workplace studies consistently reveal that employees are not chiefly motivated by money but by factors such as recognition. In a column on the subject, Workplace Coach Maureen Moriarty reports that other motivational factors are autonomy, mastery and purpose.

Drawing on author Daniel Pink's formula for workplace satisfaction and motivation, Moriarty says it's essential to tap into "the human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create and to improve our world and ourselves." Based on this perspective, she offers six tips on motivating employees, and one of the six is to give people a sense of purpose by identifying and communcating how their job matters in the context of the entire oganization and its goals.

Storytelling is a highly effective way to achieve this goal. When employees hear the CEO's vision told as a story of what their future will be, they're able to see the connection to their own roles in realizing the vision.

When have you seen a business story produce results? Do tell! I'd love to hear your comments.