Even people who appreciate the art of storytelling to create inclusive workplace cultures of belonging still see it is a "nice-to-have".
As if storytelling were just a more fun, creative way to influence decision makers and create environments where everyone feels like they belong and can flourish.
But, they say, it doesn't trump data and unconscious bias trainings and accountability metrics and quotas and telling people that if they don't hire X people from Y background by Z date, they're not gonna get their bonus.
No. Storytelling is a decidedly strategic approach to both achieve the statistical goals and results that look neat and shiny on quarterly reports, and actually change people's hearts and minds about the vast dynamism of the human condition.
To be candid, most people don't care if there are X people from Y background in Z department. Not because they're jerks (although some are), but because they're focusing on other things.
Numbers and charts and data don't motivate and inspire and break down barriers. People's stories do.
When you share your own stories, and help other people share theirs, we realize that we all want the same things:
To be seen and valued for who we are. To be our full selves.
Stories matter. Let's start telling them more often.