Author Archives: KatHansen

A Serious Business Tool

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Ed Konczal offers Simple Stories For Leadership Insights, Published by University Press of America. About using storytelling in leadership, he offers these words from others: A serious business tool. “Steven Kerr, who oversees Leadership Development at Goldman Sachs, suggests a simple exercise: Ask your company’s best leaders to name the … Continue reading →

Academics in the Organizational Storytelling Field

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Israel’s Yigal Chamish contacted me awhile back on the PhD research he (she? I’m sorry, Yigal; I don’t know if you’re male or female) is doing. “My topic is ‘Executives as Storytellers,’ Chamish writes, “and I am looking at executives who use storytelling within their organizations in order to communicate knowledge management. I am interesting on the issue of the tellers, the executives, to see how they develop stories and how they use them.”

In this blog post, Chamish writes more about this research. Excerpt here:

“Executives as Storytellers for communicating knowledge management within organizations” – who else is researching this topic for PhD.?
My research looks at the issue of “Executives as Storytellers for communicate knowledge management within organizations”. This Research is within ARU (Anglia Ruskin University) in the UK, and my supervisor is Prof. Vernon, N. Trafford from the Faculty of Education in ARU.

Embarking the PhD. research journey at the end of 2003, I am looking forward to accomplish my research and submitting my Thesis somewhere in mid or end of 2007.

Writing your Thesis is a fascinating and challenging journey, both personally and professionally. I must say that it is full of insightful discoveries and exploration, intellectually.

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Change the Story, Shift the Culture

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First, I must give much credit to Stephanie West Allen who frequently posts to the Working Stories group with her monitorings of storytelling in the blogosphere. And I must also acknowledge that my blog is not exactly timely when it comes to referencing Stephanie’s sightings — or anyone else’s. I … Continue reading →

… And Lots More Ideas on the Future of Resumes …

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Now I turn to Scobleizer, the blog referenced in the two entries below and some of the thoughts and ideas raised therein.

  • Some opinions echo those cited in my previous entry — that resume “cannot show them my passion, my intellect, my personality, etc.” Similarly, another poster said, “How the hell is [a corporate-speak covering letter and a bullet point resume] meant to convey my personality and strong work ethos?”
  • Some posters said that personal interaction is the key to conveying one’s personality, and that networking is the best way to get a job, that is certainly true. Maybe it’s because I spent five years as a resume writer and attained a resume-writing credential that I stubbornly hold onto the idea that the resume can be saved (with storytelling!) So, yes, personal interaction is key; yet I’m convinced that some of the same things that personal interaction can convey can be conveyed with a storytelling resume. Other commenters felt that resumes should be part of all personal interactions, and one turned me on to a Web site I was was surprised I had never seen for free resume creation

    • Continue reading →

    That’s What I’m Talking About

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    Back in October, Dave Lefkow wrote an entry on ERE.net, an executive recruiters’ site, that screamed out to me with its alignment with my research. My Blog is My Resume (registration may be required to see the full article) talks about “the changing dynamics of the Web’s second generation” and … Continue reading →

    Story-Related Gifts

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    I’m not sure if gifts that prompt storytelling have always been available, or if I have just noticed them more since I’ve been interested in storytelling. This year, for example, I’ve seen an “ingenious journal” that “jumpstarts the storyteller in everyone, sold by Norm Thompson and probably many others. “More … Continue reading →

    New book and doctoral research reveal value of storytelling in the job search

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    MEDIA RELEASE

    Contact: Dr. Randall S. Hansen
    Quintessential Careers
    Phone: 386-740-8872
    Fax: 386-740-9764
    Email: randall@quintcareers.com

    November 13, 2006

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF: STORYTELLING THAT PROPELS CAREERS
    New book and doctoral research reveal value of storytelling in the job search

    (QUINTESSENTIAL CAREERS: DeLand, FL) -– Job-seekers become memorable and trustworthy to prospective employers when they tell stories, according to a forthcoming book and doctoral research conducted in conjunction with Quintessential Careers, one of the Web’s oldest and most comprehensive career-development sites, celebrating its 10th anniversary this month.

    The forthcoming book, Tell Me About Yourself: Storytelling that Propels Careers, extends the ideas of current authors who tout the value of storytelling in organizations. It focuses on a narrow yet powerful use of storytelling – telling stories to advance one’s career, whether by moving up in a current organization or landing a job in a new organization. The title comes from the most commonly asked “question” in job interviews, “Tell me about yourself.” Composing stories to reveal personal and professional identities in response is just one way job-seekers can use storytelling to propel their careers.

    Tell Me About Yourself: Storytelling that Propels Careers, which was developed to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the founding of Quintessential Careers, establishes that stories paint vivid pictures and help a job-seeker to stand out, as well as explain key life/career decisions, choices, and changes. Stories told in resumes, cover letters, career portfolios, job interviews, and personal-branding campaigns help portray job-seekers as strong communicators and illustrate skills, accomplishments, values, characteristics, qualifications, expertise, and strengths.

    “Through telling stories, job-seekers can establish identity, reveal personality, enhance self-knowledge, and build confidence,” explains Katharine Hansen, creative director of Quintessential Careers and lecturer of management at Stetson University. Hansen’s doctoral dissertation research, which included qualitative interviews with workers and focus groups with recruiters, formed the scholarly underpinnings for the book. “Job-seekers who tell stories also establish an emotional connection between storyteller and listener that inspires the listener’s investment in the storyteller’s success,” Hansen notes. Continue reading →