In local government, culture is rarely built on policy documents or strategy papers alone. Governance may provide the framework, but an organisation's heartbeat is found in its narrative. As an organisational psychologist working closely with councils and public sector bodies, I've witnessed how storytelling shapes culture, drives engagement, and ultimately influences community outcomes.
Stories are more than a communication tool; collective understanding is built upon them. Research consistently demonstrates that the anecdotes we share and the phrases we repeat are central to an organisation's identity. Edgar Schein, a pioneer in organisational culture, famously argued that stories are the most powerful mechanism for embedding values.
