The Winning Strategies of Outstanding Leaders Gathering Around a Company Campfire

Author: Evelyn Clark, editor, Liu Xia, Yi Wen, translator
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The flute player on the cover is a mythological figure who has been "pouring out" his heart to people for centuries and has become a popular image in modern culture, often appearing on jewelry and gifts. He is usually known as Kokopelli, an idol worshipped by the Pueblo people. The image of Kokopelli is extensively depicted in rock art and murals in the Four Corners Region of the southwestern United States, as far away as Mexico and the California desert. As a folk singer, a symbol of abundance, and a trickster, he has been incorporated into the author's corporate identity and the trademark "Company Storytelling," because he is also a mysterious storyteller. Did he evolve from a peculiar symbol in Pueblo culture, or was he a real person? Did he really travel from village to village, playing the flute by day and telling stories by night? No one knows. However, historians agree that he was an extremely important symbol in ancient Pueblo culture and related tribes. "Whether it's a small organization or a large one, a public or private organization, a nonprofit or for-profit organization, this book can serve as a practical guide for its managers and leaders." Roy Savoian, Chair of the Department of Business Administration at Central Washington University "Evelyn Clark eloquently demonstrates the rationality and significance of storytelling in our culture. By retelling stories and legends, culture is interpreted and passed down—this is the idea that Clark conclusively explains and proves." Doug Walker, Chairman and CEO of WRQ "We all hope to tell meaningful stories about what we do every day, and Evelyn Clark has helped us learn how to do that." Paul O'Donnell, Vice President of Executive and Leadership Development at Medtronic "Evelyn's book offers a valuable exploration of the art of storytelling, and anyone who wants to become a better communicator should read it." Nelson Pharisee, Director of Education and Chief Storyteller at Nike "Sitting by the company's campfire—how great leaders win with stories," is about the power of stories in today's organizations. We will learn how effective leaders use stories in their organizations, and we will also learn how to successfully capture our company's stories and control their power and energy. Stories primarily play a healing role in life. As inhabitants of the Earth in the 21st century, we experience an external world that is contradictory, rapidly changing, and increasingly interdependent across societies, organizations, and communities. This external world differs greatly from our own internal world. This is where the healing power of stories lies. Authentic and compelling stories provide us with methods, perspectives, and behaviors to successfully navigate the differences between the two worlds we live in.