How good are we at storytelling?  Or at describing a compelling future or vision of success for a task or project?

People are motivated by having a sense of purpose about their work.  In his book Drive, Daniel Pink says there is a trifecta of intrinsic motivators: Autonomy, mastery and purpose.  

Mapmakers are skilled at helping people have a sense that what we do produces something meaningful beyond ourselves.  A sense of Purpose.

Some studies have shown that people who had an understanding of the purpose or outcome of their work were twice as productive as those that weren't.

At one level this is our ability to articulate a vision of success for work at all levels, from basic tasks to major projects.  

To do this you need to be able to:

• Analyse the environment 
• Strategise a plan or pathway 
• Prioritise so that you can execute with a laser like focus 

At another level this is our ability to tell a story that is compelling and engaging.  Arguably one of the best spinners of compelling stories and creating a vision of success was Steve Jobs.  The structure he used when creating a vision story was:

1. Describing the status quo:  What are people's lives currently like?
2. The lofty ideal:  The "what if" question, for example, "what if smartphones could be less machine and more human"
3. The objection:  Articulate concerns before they voice them.  This shows balance.
4. The star moment:  The crucial moment where people gasp all at once, eg unveiling the iPhone

Homework:

• Drive by Daniel Pink
• Ignite by Gabrielle Dolan
• Take time out to consider the vision of success for your current task or project.