The Leader's Guide to Storytelling: Mastering the Art and Discipline of Business Narrative, Revised and Updated

7.3. GETTING THE GROUP TO WORK TOGETHER

Leaders should exploit every opportunity to bring people together and get them to see their common goals and shared values. In fact, every chance encounter is an opportunity to build alliances and nurture shared values and purpose. An informal lunch, a chance meeting in the corridor, a business trip together—all represent opportunities to build a sense of communal purpose and discover an interest in pursuing a common goal through sharing stories.

In late 1996 in the World Bank, the president, Jim Wolfensohn, announced an institutional commitment to knowledge management. I was immediately appointed program director for knowledge management, but no arrangements were in place to implement the approach. Thus, ...