.png)
The Company Meeting We Thought Would Be Our Last
There's a particular kind of dread that comes with an unexpected all-hands company meeting.
Especially when things haven't been going particularly well.
Years ago, when I was working at Tippett Studio, the legendary visual effects company founded by Phil Tippett (the man who brought dinosaurs to life in Jurassic Park), we were going through a difficult period.
So when Phil called everyone together for a company meeting, a lot of us assumed the worst. Layoffs. Bad news. Maybe something even worse.
Instead, Phil told us a story.
He started by describing how he'd gotten a haircut before an important meeting with Kathleen Kennedy, the producer behind E.T., Jurassic Park, and countless other films.
He'd been preparing to pitch the studio for a new Jurassic project.
But when he arrived, something unexpected happened. The meeting wasn't what he thought it was. They weren't there to hear his pitch. They were there to talk about a documentary. And they wanted Phil back.
Suddenly, what we'd assumed was going to be a meeting about the studio's uncertain future became something else entirely.
An opportunity. A reason for optimism. A story we were now part of.
And here's the thing.
Phil could have delivered that news in about 30 seconds.
"We've got a new project. Here's what it means for the studio."
Done. Meeting adjourned.
But that's not what he did. He told us what happened. He let us experience the uncertainty, the surprise, and the excitement along with him.
And years later, I still remember that meeting.
Not because of the announcement. Because of the story.
The Difference Between Information and Connection
I spend a lot of time these days helping people become better storytellers at work. Leaders, executives, salespeople, teams, and anyone else who needs to communicate something that matters.
And one of the things I often remind them is that information tells people what happened. Stories help them understand why it matters.
Think about the last time you had to announce a change at work.
A new system. A new initiative. A new direction for your team.
You probably had a list of things you needed everyone to know.
But did you tell them the story behind the decision?
What happened that made the change necessary? What surprised you? What did you discover along the way?
Those are often the details that help people connect with the information.
Of course, not everything needs to be a story. Sometimes, an email really is just an email.
But when you need people to understand something, remember it, or care about what happens next, storytelling can make all the difference.
Something Has to Change
One of my favorite definitions of a story is that it's about change. Something happened. And because of that, something is different.
It might be a change in circumstances. Or a change in understanding. Or even a change in how someone feels.
In Phil's case, we walked into that meeting expecting bad news.
We walked out feeling something entirely different. That's a story.
And it's one I've been telling ever since.
I recently shared this experience on the Truth, Lies and Work podcast, where we talked about storytelling in the workplace, why stories are so effective at helping people navigate change, and how to make your own communication more memorable.
🎧 Listen to the full conversation:
Comments