According to Howard Gardner, a professor at Harvard who has written Leading Minds, these are stories of identity. Others have referred to these as campfire stories. The stories convey values, build esprit de corps , create role models, and reveal how things work. Stories constitute the single most powerful way that leaders communicate. Stories help organizations orient new members, adapt to change, and define their core beliefs and values.
Stories are potent carriers of memories.
Great leaders regularly utilize stories to connect with their followers. In addition to playing a powerful role as carriers of organizational culture, stories become tools for training and developing people. Storytelling is a key means of teaching. As a leader, consider how you could effectively use campfire stories to communicate your leadership messages. Consider a story from the archives of The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University.