My guest this week is a former lawyer turned empathy guru, and she's here to share her secret sauce for creating a more connected workplace: storytelling.
Dr. Ann Kowal Smith and I explore how stories aren't just for entertainment—they're powerful tools for challenging our assumptions, widening our circles of empathy, and sparking those "aha" moments that bring us closer to our colleagues. We delve into the magic of literature, from short stories to essays, and how they create safe spaces for us to share and grow together.
Imagine expanding your imagination, seeing the world through different lenses, and finding common ground in the most unexpected places. That's the power of storytelling in action, and Dr. Smith is here to guide us through it. It feels counterintuitive, but we can make our workplaces more ‘real’ through fiction.
Fiction can help create a compelling workplace reality
Why you should listen: Stories as empathy machines
People are the biggest leadership plot point
We explore: Using Literature and Storytelling to Foster Empathy and Connection in the Workplace
Thoughtful leadership conversations centered through literature
A shared experience for new ideas, team development and deeper communication
How stories create low risk spaces for new perspectives
Take action
Find some stories that challenge your leadership perspective
Tip of the week
Every chapter of The Olympus Project starts with a ‘mini story’ from one of the characters designed to provoke our thinking. The one I’ve selected is: “Nature has been taking a life to feed a life since the dawn of time. Life is violent and tragic.” Do you agree? What does it make you think?
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About Dr. Ann Kowal Smith
Dr. Ann Kowal Smith is CEO & Founder of Reflection Point. Reflection Point unlocks collective intelligence by guiding small groups through facilitated discussions of short stories to build bridges, flip perspectives and deepen shared understanding.
Reflection Point has worked with organisations all over the world to foster inclusion, innovation and collaboration. Ann has also served as Principal with Heidrick & Struggles International and Strategy Expert with McKinsey & Company.
Prior to joining McKinsey, Ann practiced corporate and securities law in private and corporate settings. Ann earned her AB from Bryn Mawr College, her MA from the University of Michigan, and both her JD and DBA from Case Western Reserve University. Her dissertation examined organizational learning and innovation. Her work has been featured in peer-reviewed journals, The New York Times, Crain’s Cleveland Business, Financial Times, Harvard Business Review and Forbes.
Key moments
Planet Zoë: Zoë has swapped skiing for running as she settles back into her routine, plus exciting developments as the launch of Olympus Bound gets ever nearer. If you would like to get an advance eBook copy and write a review before the launch, Zoë would be thrilled! You can do so here.
Building a More Empathetic Workplace (00:02:26)
Zoë introduces the topic of building a more empathetic and connected workplace.
Using Stories to Build Connection and Empathy (00:03:41)
Dr Ann Kowal Smith discusses using stories to build connection and empathy in the workplace.
The Genesis of the Work (00:05:44)
Dr Smith shares the genesis of using stories to create genuine, engaging conversations in the workplace.
Encouraging Engagement with Literature (00:07:01)
Dr Smith discusses overcoming resistance to engaging in literature-based conversations in the workplace.
The Power of Stories to Expand Imagination (00:13:35)
Dr Smith explains the power of stories to expand imagination and push people beyond their comfort zones.
Deriving Personal Connections from Stories (00:16:51)
Dr Smith and Zoë discuss how individuals derive personal connections and lessons from stories.
Using Written Word for Interpretation (00:19:04)
Dr Smith explains the use of written word to allow participants to visualise and interpret stories without external influence.
The Importance of Stories in Unpacking Assumptions (00:20:01)
Discussion on how stories can reveal cultural biases and unpack assumptions.
Curating Stories for Building Connections (00:21:37)
The process of curating stories with specific parameters to spark meaningful conversations.
Duration and Frequency of Reflection Point Assignments (00:25:38)
The ideal duration and frequency of sessions with a team for building the muscle of connection and empathy.
Facilitation and Structure of Conversations (00:28:27)
The facilitation methodology, emphasising process-oriented facilitation and the importance of open-ended conversations.
The Intersection of Fiction and Workplace Practices (00:38:27)
Zoë and Dr Smith discuss the integration of fiction into workplace practices and its impact on leadership and connection.
The Power of Stories in the Workplace (00:39:50)
Using stories to unite communities and improve workplace collaboration.
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About your host, Canberra leadership expert Zoë Routh:
Zoë Routh is a leadership futurist, podcaster, and multiple award-winning author. She works with leaders and teams to navigate future horizons.
She has worked with individuals and teams internationally and in Australia since 1987. From wild Canadian rivers to the Australian Outback, and the Boardroom jungles, Zoë is an adventurist! She facilitates strategy and culture sessions with audacious teams.
Zoë's fourth leadership book, People Stuff - Beyond Personality Problems: An advanced handbook for leadership, won the Book of the Year at the Australian Business Book Awards in 2020. Her fifth book is a near future science fiction dystopian novel, The Olympus Project.
Zoë is the producer of the Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast, dedicated to asking “What if…?” and sharing Big Ideas on the Future of Leadership.
Zoë is an outdoor adventurist and enjoys telemark skiing, has run six marathons, is a one-time belly-dancer, has survived cancer, and loves hiking in the high country. She is married to a gorgeous Aussie and is a self-confessed dark chocolate addict.