A lot of people consider “storying” an inborn knack or talent. Some listen intently, while others envy the natural-born storytellers around them. Truth is, natural “storying” with strategic intent can be learned by anyone.

"Storying," or storytelling, as a means of expressing personal identity has risen in popularity recently among career advisors and executive consultants. Leadership researchers have also become intrigued in studying the notion of storying.

Among rhetorical strategies, telling a "good story" helps people make meaning. Several authors note that storying also increases the likelihood that a person's identity claims will be accepted by others.

We all have identity claims that we bring with us, especially when we enter a new workplace. With more pressure placed on executives to make meaning for their employees through storytelling, it's clear why business scholars have become increasingly enchanted in studying narrative as a means of knowing, as a means of understanding work identity, and as a means of effectively leading organizations.

So, what’s my story going to be? You may wonder.

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