Introduction

This is not a book about stories. Nor is it a book about telling stories or leading with stories. This book explores the fundamental human propensity for thinking narratively: what it means and how to engage that ability to better serve our intentions and needs. Our moment-to-moment experiences occur within narratives which we create and believe to be true. With a rich understanding of what it means to think “narratively,” we become more aware of the meaning we create and narrate to ourselves in an ongoing commentary. With narrative intelligence, leaders gain insight into the narratives they create about themselves and others. They learn how to refine them to better serve their intentions, and learn also how to affect the narratives that others shape about them.