Why should leaders tell stories? Because stories can convey emotion, humor and learning. They are interesting, captivating and memorable. They can be inspiring, motivational and life changing. People relate to stories and generally love them.
You may not agree with my final selections, and that is okay. I personally never seemed to agree with the finalists for “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” There were so many to chose from.
You would think that any team with impeccable talent would get perfect results. But there have been a number of loaded teams that refute such a thought. The U.S. 2006 World Baseball Classic team put together some of the best players to play the game including Roger Clemens, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, but couldn’t beat Canada, Mexico or South Korea and failed to qualify for the semifinals with a sixth place finish.
This is a sad photo in some ways, but cute and meaningful in other ways. This photo reminds me of some of the stupid things we do as leaders. I am also reminded of how stupid multitasking can be.
This next example has a little bit of a different spin on the power of positive reinforcement. My wife has regularly told me I am handsome throughout our marriage. Now, I know what I see in the mirror every morning, and it’s not even close to prince charming.
