A September Day Full of Stories

Let’s set off on a short journey. Imagine it is a sunny September day at Gut Einern, our inspiring pioneering place. In the outdoor kitchen, between the permaculture garden and fluffy clouds, ten people sit relaxed on pallet sofas. One by one each person talks about their favourite sustainable product. There is the old rucksack that carries memories of an entire youth. There is grandma’s yellow cookbook, which brings back childhood time and again. Or the newly discovered joy of second-hand clothing, which is more individual than any new piece of clothing ever could be. We hear laughter as common ground is discovered and connections are made. It quickly becomes clear that sustainable living doesn’t have to be complicated – and that everyone is a natural at telling stories that touch and motivate others.

Why storytelling?

This is exactly where our workshop comes in: storytelling means exchange, diversity of perspectives and a shared search for meaning. It’s about distilling the essence:

Why do we do what we do – and what is our North Star?

Which products, services or ideas will take us from today to tomorrow?

What challenges stand in our way – and how do we overcome them?

What impact do we want to make, and what do the people we do it for need?

From questions to stories

Working in groups, participants use storytelling canvases, develop micro-stories, test initial approaches and refine their narratives iteratively. Each round brings new facets, new perspectives and new ideas. This results in stories that not only tell a tale, but also work well to trigger emotions. Some stories clearly show a positive ending – they inspire and call for action. Others are still in the midst of conflict. This is also valuable, because it allows obstacles to be made visible, priorities to be clarified and next steps to be defined. Storytelling becomes a tool that makes innovation possible.

What does storytelling create?

The resulting stories can be used in many ways:

for corporate communications

for change management

for employee engagement and co-creation

for new ideas, value propositions and innovation paths

But above all, storytelling connects. It makes complex issues understandable, conveys motivation and creates shared images that everyone can relate to. It is precisely this common ground that we need to make sustainability transformation truly possible.

Interested in telling your own story?

How could you and your team use storytelling to sharpen ideas, get people on board and drive innovation? What stories are still waiting to be told?

If you are interested in how you can use storytelling as a tool for your transformation journey, please feel free to contact us.