From the Classroom to the Boardroom--A Storyteller Educator Gives Talk for people around the world.
- Kevin Cordi
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
I never know where I will be asked to speak, but recently I was asked to speak and two things suprised me--I was asked as a storyteller educator in schools to address via on-line what business peoople can learn from a teacher of stories in the classrom. The next surprise was the hosting place was Russia.
A fellow storyteller and a producer of business story-directed conferences
Artem Mushin-Makedonskiy
asked me to give an address addressing the theme Chief Storyteller. I sent something that aligned with business practices, and in Artem's wisdom, he said, I have plenty of business people addressing the theme, I want to capture the uniqueness of you of both a storyteller and educator and what listeners can learn from your classroom that they can apply to the board room.
I value this. Although I firmly believe being an educator is a great gift, this gave me pause to frame what I have learned for recognized business experts. I was informed over 2500 signed up for the conference and I was asked to give this talk and serve on a panel. Over 600 attended each session.
I wanted to share with you some of the talk and invite you to watch the confereence. (You can also see the excellent work of over 30 well-known speakers at Artem's YouTube site at https://www.youtube.com/@AcademyHistoria
Below is an excerpt of my talk and a link to the video of my presentations. I hope it helps inform you in your practice and hints at the reasons I value story as a true meaning making process. Whether you are a business leader or educator or someone interested in story, I hope it provides some guidance. I would enjoy hearing about your practice and perhaps ideas that speak to these ideas. "Together we can make a difference with stories."
STORY VS. DATA
“Here’s a tension everyone one of us lives with”
Dramatist Robert McKee states, “Stories are the most powerful tool in a leader’s toolkit.”
Swedish physicist and statistician Hans Rosling said, “” Numbers have an important story to tell. They rely on you to give them a voice.”
In education, I learned this the hard way…”
One of the high schools that I taught had the reputation of being rough. When they heard the neighborhood, people replied, “you teach there.” The story they told of my school was of challenge and even fear. I noticed some of my students echoed this. I made an assignment; this is what teachers do. I ask students tell me what signs they read when they walked to school. They said the signs read “stay out. Warning. Stop signs. Don’t do this signs…
I explained this is only one story. I invited them to walk again and create a “Sound Scape Story” of what we don’t see. Students shared the stories that come from deep listening. I heard, ‘They can hear Grandma Rose sipping her tea on the swing around porch. The boys playing catch with her dad always at 7: 30 a.m. before school. The crossing guard in her quiet voice remind the kids, ‘please watch before crossing the street.’ I explained these sounds told a different story. Then, I asked which one are you going to listen to? Ask, why don’t you listen to your sound story around you and pay more attention to people who only visit the environment within and in your school?
“What I thought the students initially needed…was better information.
What they needed…
Was a way to make meaning, personal, contextualized meaning—connections using story.
“And in business, we make the same mistake.”
“We think clarity comes from more data.
More dashboard.
More slides.”
“But data doesn’t decide.
People do.”
“And people decide based on the story they believe they’re in.”
And in order this to happen, it must be strategic.
As one of our speakers Anjali Sharma said in her book Strategic Storytelling (2024), “A strategic story, built with immense focus on whom the story is for, has the power to change storytelling outcomes for individuals and organizations.”
I ask you, are you as business leaders, strategic in finding a place where your colleagues, partners, and customers fit in the story you are telling together?
Give a listen, take time to view, but most important, tell your story.
Whether you are in the Board Room or the Classroom, your story matters. Share your story. We are listening.
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