In business we have the tendency to analyse, structure and formulate as precisely as possible. Even so in most business conversations.
In simple and even difficult situations these techniques of structuring info have proven to be succesful. In situations where we are facing a complex (or even chaotic) environment factual conversations drilling for structured info are often not enough. We need context and sense-making to understand what is really happening.
Are many (most?) of our conversations in the workplace not transactional? Are they conversations at all? It is here where storytelling comes in. 
Let me share with you this story where Michael Parkinson of ABC Television once interviewed Orson Welles.
Orson Welles came to my room and I’d been working on this interview for, like, all my life, and I opened the door and he was dressed entirely in black, black sombrero, black tie, black shirt, black cloak and he swept into the room. Incredibly dramatic.
“My name’s Orson Welles”, he said “And you would be?”
And I said, “Er Parkinson.”
“Yes”, he said.
And he looked around and he saw this scrap of paper on my desk and he said, “That?”
I said, “My questions.”
“Do you mind if I look?”
I said, “No.”
And he picked them up and he turned to me and he said, “How many of these shows have you done?”
I said, “Two.”
“I’ve done many more”, he said. “Will you take my advice?”
I said, “Certainly”.
And he ripped up the questions and he said, “Let’s talk”. And walked away.
And he sat down and he did two one hours that night, that were majestic”
Sometimes the best stories arise from our letting go of the process and just having a conversation.
Welcome your thoughts.
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