Narratives That Influence
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Simona was delighted that her direct line manager had approved the budget to take a development course. She browsed through the extensive catalog of workshops and training options, feeling both excited and overwhelmed. Needing a moment to clear her thoughts, Simona decided to take a coffee break.
At the coffee area, she bumped into a colleague and shared her dilemma.
Simona: "I'm unsure which development training to pick! Any recommendations?”
Colleague: "Do you know what specific area or skill you're looking to develop?"
Simona: "With all that's happening, I'd really like to improve my influencing skills."
Colleague: "And if you had those skills, how or where would you apply them?
Simona: "I'd start with influencing the leadership team, to secure more resources for the molecule I'm working on. I want to ensure our team succeeds. But with so many conflicting priorities, I'm concerned we won't achieve our goals."
Colleague: Think out of the box. Take a creative approach to re-shaping the narrative.”
Simona: “That’s challenging because the company’s priorities have been established. I need a workshop that offers a step-by-step 'recipe' to influence the narrative and get what I want.”
Her colleague pondered this and then offered an analogy:
"Everyone wants the power to influence. We all possess tools, skills, and strengths, but not everyone knows what’s in their toolbox or how to use them effectively. I attended a training course that didn't provide a step-by-step 'recipe', but it helped me understand the art of improvisation and recipe creation through three distinct perspectives:
My Fridge: My ingredients and how to use them creatively & authentically
Others' Fridges: Collaborating with others & using their ingredients.
The Kitchen: Leveraging available tools and spaces effectively to explore synergies.
In other words, I learned not to be a bystander, but to be an active influencer."
Simona: "That sounds different. Can you send me the link to the workshop, please?"
Colleague: "Sure, I'll send it over now."
“If you can tell a story well, you can move people to do something.”
- Soledad O'Brien
