Small change: saying nothing? People will think the worst

First published on
Jan 24, 2023
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Writing Small Change Communicating clearly Culture in companies Difficult conversations Getting change done 2023

Human beings live our lives in stories. The world around us is so complex that we need narratives to help us make sense of what’s going on — regardless of how accurate those narratives might be.

In any situation where a story is absent, you can be sure of one thing: your people will simply make one up. Such fables tend towards the weirdest — and often most woeful — possible interpretation of events. It is vital for leaders to act in the knowledge that human beings are meaning-making machines — rather than carrying on as though telepathy is a thing.

Something to consider: what are the most unhelpful and inaccurate narratives present in my organisation?

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