The Roman poet Ovid completed his work “Metamorphoses” in 8 AD. This epic poem’s central theme is “change,” an omnipresent force that affects both gods and mortals, transforming them into distinct beings and elements of nature. Ovid narrates how actions and desires result in physical and emotional changes, driven largely by the unpredictable nature of the gods.
This transcendental work of Latin letters gains relevance today in the face of an onslaught as enormous as it is unexpected that generates “chaos” in the year 2025, twenty centuries after Ovid wrote this poem.
Before the “chaos,” we weren’t exactly resting on a bed of roses; there was already a chaotic world saturated with quantitative analysis, data, and metrics. Despite this, the great paradox centers on one reality: decisions are still made through emotional connections.
Around the world, businesspeople, entrepreneurs, and executives are asking themselves: How do we cope with the change before us? It’s like having a tiger in the room.
Transformation and how to deal with change requires a coherent, consistent, and appropriate narrative because it is the energy that flows through the organizational system.
Two thousand years ago, Ovid didn’t have the sophisticated tools of today’s world, yet “The Metamorphoses” have survived to this day without the author needing “hard data” to transform gods and mortals.
Companies that master the art of storytelling are better prepared to lead and implement the organizational transformations that change requires.
It is essential that organizations draw on the stories of their stakeholders, because they become testimonies. The impact on the collective memory of an authentic story is far greater than a summary of isolated data.
It’s not about reinventing the wheel; let’s focus on the organization’s own mission, which is the foundation of why we serve or operate in a particular market. Congruence.
It’s not about discovering a silver lining either; let’s focus on the strategic vision to create the transformational narratives that will allow the organization to adapt to the new reality. Conviction.
It’s not about discovering warm water; the stories of the company’s everyday heroes reinforce the values of the organizational culture. Consistency.
Constantly adapting companies thrive on stories aligned with their reality. This is where the fascinating world of Artificial Intelligence comes in, because stakeholder responses to shared narratives can be used to measure their impact. Official qualitative data from the organization can also be explored, from which exciting stories emerge. Or, it’s possible to anticipate and predict which stories best fit a particular context.
Corporations have a treasure trove of stories to tell from different stakeholders, not only to adapt but also to accelerate transformation.
Ovid is right: change is here. Up to date the song “You´ll never walk alone” applies well in times of change; if we want to drive it, well-told stories will be the catalyst.
Article written by Jorge Segovia, CFR Global Executive Search Mexico
Photo source Pexel