Organizational Myths Are Crucial In Shaping The Culture And Providing A Powerful Tool For Learning

Storytelling: Organizational Myths and Legends, 2005 TNT Conference

Differences Myths Legends

Real or imaginary heroes, can be animals Fictionalized version of a real person

Might not have ever happened, Fictionalized version of something that but it could have happened. really happened

Can be positive or negative Usually positive but often exaggerated

Help people make sense of their world Make memorable heroes and heroic behavior

Organizational myths:  shape the organization’s culture; develop over time  inform about traditions and history of the organization  inculcate core values of the organization  show how we do things around here  teach rules and taboos

Ancient recurring themes in organizational myths:  Creation: birth of the organization, heroic tales of founders and their early struggles and adventures. “Good old days” stories.  Struggle for identity: survivor tales, recount memories of particular incidents or traumas in the organization’s history  Battles, warriors, and heroes: created as a result of hardships or disasters: downsizing, leadership changes, and scandals. Warriors and heroes can be at any level in the organization.  Love, self-sacrifice, dedication: typical at retirements, long-time service awards, employee of the month ceremonies.  Wisdom and maturity: Told by or are about organization’s elder statesmen. Elders are responsible for instructing the next generation in the organization’s heritage and tradition, and in what behavior is consistent with that tradition. Key Principles:  If behavior in the organization doesn’t match the story being told, the story and storyteller, will have no credibility with this audience--lesson learned don’t trust the stories you hear.  The creation and telling of organizational myths cannot be stopped.  Myth is one of the most powerful and underestimated forms of human communication.  challenge to leaders and trainers to get what’s happening and use myths productively.

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