Football team

A team manager narrates:

The Chairman of the Board used the metaphor of a football team in his New Year speech. Nicely found, as you have a playing field with Lines around it and borders within which you move around. Everyone understands that. I am the manager, the referee in that setting. And then there was this story about the players that have to play the game. To which one of my colleagues says: nice story but if that same Chairman takes my players out of the field, one by one because they are needed elsewhere, we cannot continue. I cannot play the game any longer. Because if there is only one left, he works himself half dead. I thought myself, yep using a metaphor is all very well but you must realise what you call onto yourself. In that same period one department lost six people: goodbye players! You cannot in all honesty say to your people: go on play that game –we will just send another lot home! How long can I expect my team to want to play the game? Cause football with only one man on the left and one on the right is really not much fun…
This story is an example of the importance of timely and effective change communication It clearly shows where the Chairman looses the connection. His story has no apprehension or engagement with the reality of his employees. The narrator of the above story rightly or wrongly, feels to be put “off site”. And this is how counter stories come to life and the metaphor becomes an enemy instead of hero in the speech. Unfortunately counter stories are far more powerful then the corporate, official story. Counter stories develop in the informal organization where they entirely lead their own life. With the right communication, the formal message can easily be engaged with the informal organization. When a leader uses lived, stories to communicate his vision, the message will come across louder and far more authentic. His story will connect with organizational members and their daily experiences. He will show knowledge and understanding when he used stories from the informal organization to make his point. And thus connecting vision and targets, goals to the organization.