Storytelling Eats Policy (and Ideology) for Breakfast

Business consultant Peter Drucker is often credited with the phrase "culture eats strategy for breakfast," and we agree that culture must be aligned with strategy for organizations to be successful. Culture reflects our values, guides decision-making and encourages internal cohesion.

In politics and public affairs, you need good stories to communicate the values and purpose which guide you. Policy ideas and philosophical frameworks may be important, but they are secondary to compelling, authentic storytelling. Even objective data, our bread and butter, is most impactful when it tells a good story.

Mitch Landrieu and Ayanna Pressley offer two recent examples of doing this well. By telling stories, these public leaders distill abstract or complex ideas into a form which the public can grasp. It's an important lesson for how to bring people to your side, especially when dealing with the complexity of American politics.