Page 35 - Priorities #50 2011-June/July

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isolated large perfect stories with clean beginning,
middles, and ends and unmistakable story arcs.
In many instances these stories have already been
warped around the gravity of a pre-digested message.
Stories are creative acts and furthermore I view them
as co-creative stages on which themes, drama, and
meanings emerge in a process of co-creation. The
story is only one small part of the key. The decoding
and collaborative sense making space generated by
telling a story to trigger the stories of others is sacred.
My experience has been that when this space opens up, storytelling and listening is authentic, deep, and responsive to the needs of the moment. The space falls apart when listening ceases and any one person returns to advancing a monocular agenda.
SMB: Do you draw on story archetypes, such as Jungian, when you consult with companies on the use of storytelling? If so, why are archetypes effective and how does one avoid stereotypes when using archetypes?
TLG: Stories are patterns. Nature and our mind work in patterns. Jung’s work is brilliant and archetypes can be an effective way to engage in sense making. Archetypes repeat and they can be found everywhere. However, I do not find it necessary to use them in my organizational work. It’s far more effective to have people create their own taxonomies and categories. Inevitably, there will be overlaps and similarities.
Caption
Indexing is how we classify our experiences. The better the index the easier it is find information. The problem with an index is deciding what descriptors to use to classify our experiences. Indexes are further complicated by the fact everyone will chose different “key words,” or descriptors to classify their experiences. If we cannot access our experiences due to an inadequate index or one that does not match someone else’s, our experiences become dormant. They are left in the proverbial warehouse of our
mind available to our unconscious but collecting dust. Effective communicators and learners naturally develop extensive indexing schemes. They draw upon lots of different experiences and can recall these experiences in the form of stories.
Stories require active listening because they are encrypted. Each listening demands our full and undivided imagination. Stories are most effective when we leverage their multi-layered nature. Stories harkens us to seek meaning and generate personal associations with them. Stories are not meant to be left in isolation. Meaning arises through a series of relationships. Each story is somehow tethered to another one and it is through this sea of associations that we generate meaning and behavior.
SMB: What are some of your favorite stories?
TLG: The one I am listening to in the moment.
SMB: What are you currently reading or have read?
TLG: I strongly recommend Gregory Boyle’s book, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion
SMB: How has the Priory influenced your path in life?
TLG: High school brought me a wonderful spiritual guide, Father Maurus. If his tireless energy, productivity and joy of life was a reflection of a life dedicated to God I was ready to sign up. Fr. Marus’ responsibilities to the school and community were huge. His desk was meticulously arranged with action items on slips of paper assigned to rows of categories and prioritized. He was always on the go yet he could be found outside of his biology office caring for the roses in his garden. He had a beautiful way of relating the