Ignited: Managers! Light Up Your Company and Career for More Power, More Purpose, and More Success

Chapter 11. Ignition Point 6: The Story

The Power of the Bard

In ancient times, the Bard was the poet, storyteller, and historian of the tribe. The Bard entertained the people with tales of the old days while they were gathered around the fire at night or during long journeys to the next hunting ground or settlement. But the Bard’s tales weren’t merely for entertainment. In the Bard’s keeping were the traditions of the tribe, the stories of its great leaders, the triumphs and tragedies of the past, and the values that united the tribe into one people.

Today, for many of us, the company is the tribe—the focus of our days and the center of our dreams and struggles. Yet the traditions and values of the corporate tribe are often unclear. Here is the ...