Storytelling for Leaders

Stories matter. Written by renowned psychoanalyst, leadership scholar, and executive coach, Manfred Kets de Vries, this book uncovers, explains, and captures the power and art of storytelling at work and in life, and how it can be applied in organizations to powerful effect. Our talent in telling stories makes us more effective. When we talk about events, characters, actions, themes, feelings, and ideas, storytelling is a way to communicate our message. The stories we tell inform, influence, entertain, and shape our lives and those of other people. Using an engaging and storytelling style throughout, the book explores the important role of storytelling, with a particular focus on how it is one of the most important ways to develop leadership skills. Not only does this book present a clear method for improving our storytelling skills, it also explores themes such as the tendency of some people not to live up to their full potential, why people assume an attitude of helplessness, the effects of adversity on human development, why people behave stupidly, the psychological dynamics which affect influencers, the role of sexuality in career management, and what needs to be done to have a fulfilling life. The book is perfect for organizational leaders looking to develop their understanding and skills in the art of storytelling, thereby increasing their effectiveness in positive and powerful ways.

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries is the Distinguished Clinical Professor of Leadership Development and Organizational Change at INSEAD and was the Founder of INSEAD's Global Leadership Center. The Financial Times, Wirtschaftswoche, Le Capital, El Pais, and The Economist have rated him among the world's leading management thinkers. As a global consultant in leadership development, his clients have included many of the world's most important global organizations. He is the author of more than 50 books, hundreds of articles, and the recipient of numerous awards, including four honorary doctorates. He is also the Chairman of the Kets de Vries Institute (KDVI), a boutique leadership development consulting firm.

Introduction 1. Being a storyteller 2. The storytelling "cure" 3. The Scheherazade method 4. Leaders who tell stories rule the world 5. Stories that plead for help 6. The golden larva syndrome 7. The idiocy of stupidity 8. Beyond stupidity 9. Overcoming adversity 10. The influencers' world of make-believe 11. Sleeping your way to the top 12. I want to have a life Concluding comments Epigraph sources