Mergers & Acquisitions

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for uniting people during mergers and transformations. As a Forbes article puts it: "Stories make meaning out of our messy pile of memories." When we commit to telling stories - of common purpose, of differences, even the difficult parts - we build a stronger path toward a healthier, more connected future.

Growing up in Africa, I learned that before schools sytems were in place, children gathered around grandparents in the evenings to learn through stories. No matter how advanced technology becomes, we always return to the basics: stories connect us.

How are you strengthening your storytelling to influence and inspire during change?

Story telling is almost a lost art in the USA and perhaps in other industrialized countries   It is a lost essential art and a magnificent way to convey ideas.  Most managers that I have dealt with have no patience with this method of learning and communicating.  They want statistics and bottom line presentations.  I am by nature a story teller and I wish I could teach/coach that way more often.

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for uniting people during mergers and transformations. As a Forbes article puts it: "Stories make meaning out of our messy pile of memories." When we commit to telling stories - of common purpose, of differences, even the difficult parts - we build a stronger path toward a healthier, more connected future.

Growing up in Africa, I learned that before schools sytems were in place, children gathered around grandparents in the evenings to learn through stories. No matter how advanced technology becomes, we always return to the basics: stories connect us.

How are you strengthening your storytelling to influence and inspire during change?

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for uniting people during mergers and transformations. As a Forbes article puts it: "Stories make meaning out of our messy pile of memories." When we commit to telling stories - of common purpose, of differences, even the difficult parts - we build a stronger path toward a healthier, more connected future.

Growing up in Africa, I learned that before schools sytems were in place, children gathered around grandparents in the evenings to learn through stories. No matter how advanced technology becomes, we always return to the basics: stories connect us.

How are you strengthening your storytelling to influence and inspire during change?

Marilyn, this is a powerful post. Your insight about stories making "meaning out of our messy pile of memories" is exactly what Quantum Storytelling is about. It's a shift from seeing stories as linear timelines to a non-linear, interconnected web of experiences. In a merger, this means moving beyond a single, top-down narrative. Instead, we co-create a new reality by letting diverse stories-of hope, fear, and everything in between-entangle and coexist.
This approach is crucial for Organizational Change Management (OCM). Rather than forcing a narrative, we facilitate a bottom-up process. When people feel safe to share their experiences, they gain a sense of ownership, which is essential for a successful transformation. It's about building a resilient culture, not just a communication plan.
To answer your question, I'm strengthening my storytelling by:
 - Practicing deep listening to understand the emotions and unspoken narratives.
 - Highlighting entangled narratives to find common ground between different experiences.
 - Facilitating story circles to give people a safe space to share and connect.
Thank you for this reminder that in times of change, our most powerful tool is the human story.

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for uniting people during mergers and transformations. As a Forbes article puts it: "Stories make meaning out of our messy pile of memories." When we commit to telling stories - of common purpose, of differences, even the difficult parts - we build a stronger path toward a healthier, more connected future.

Growing up in Africa, I learned that before schools sytems were in place, children gathered around grandparents in the evenings to learn through stories. No matter how advanced technology becomes, we always return to the basics: stories connect us.

How are you strengthening your storytelling to influence and inspire during change?

I agree wholeheartedly. Making everyone feel safe in a threatening situation is a key element of what we do.  Change threatens everyone because it introduces the unknown into a known environment.  Fear is contagious and the rumor mill is a CM's worst enemy.  We need to control the narrative as best we can and effective story telling is an excellent tool in our arsenal.

Marilyn, this is a powerful post. Your insight about stories making "meaning out of our messy pile of memories" is exactly what Quantum Storytelling is about. It's a shift from seeing stories as linear timelines to a non-linear, interconnected web of experiences. In a merger, this means moving beyond a single, top-down narrative. Instead, we co-create a new reality by letting diverse stories-of hope, fear, and everything in between-entangle and coexist.
This approach is crucial for Organizational Change Management (OCM). Rather than forcing a narrative, we facilitate a bottom-up process. When people feel safe to share their experiences, they gain a sense of ownership, which is essential for a successful transformation. It's about building a resilient culture, not just a communication plan.
To answer your question, I'm strengthening my storytelling by:
 - Practicing deep listening to understand the emotions and unspoken narratives.
 - Highlighting entangled narratives to find common ground between different experiences.
 - Facilitating story circles to give people a safe space to share and connect.
Thank you for this reminder that in times of change, our most powerful tool is the human story.

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for uniting people during mergers and transformations. As a Forbes article puts it: "Stories make meaning out of our messy pile of memories." When we commit to telling stories - of common purpose, of differences, even the difficult parts - we build a stronger path toward a healthier, more connected future.

Growing up in Africa, I learned that before schools sytems were in place, children gathered around grandparents in the evenings to learn through stories. No matter how advanced technology becomes, we always return to the basics: stories connect us.

How are you strengthening your storytelling to influence and inspire during change?

Marilyn, this is a powerful post. Your insight about stories making "meaning out of our messy pile of memories" is exactly what Quantum Storytelling is about. It's a shift from seeing stories as linear timelines to a non-linear, interconnected web of experiences. In a merger, this means moving beyond a single, top-down narrative. Instead, we co-create a new reality by letting diverse stories-of hope, fear, and everything in between-entangle and coexist.
This approach is crucial for Organizational Change Management (OCM). Rather than forcing a narrative, we facilitate a bottom-up process. When people feel safe to share their experiences, they gain a sense of ownership, which is essential for a successful transformation. It's about building a resilient culture, not just a communication plan.
To answer your question, I'm strengthening my storytelling by:
 - Practicing deep listening to understand the emotions and unspoken narratives.
 - Highlighting entangled narratives to find common ground between different experiences.
 - Facilitating story circles to give people a safe space to share and connect.
Thank you for this reminder that in times of change, our most powerful tool is the human story.

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for uniting people during mergers and transformations. As a Forbes article puts it: "Stories make meaning out of our messy pile of memories." When we commit to telling stories - of common purpose, of differences, even the difficult parts - we build a stronger path toward a healthier, more connected future.

Growing up in Africa, I learned that before schools sytems were in place, children gathered around grandparents in the evenings to learn through stories. No matter how advanced technology becomes, we always return to the basics: stories connect us.

How are you strengthening your storytelling to influence and inspire during change?

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for uniting people during mergers and transformations. As a Forbes article puts it: "Stories make meaning out of our messy pile of memories." When we commit to telling stories - of common purpose, of differences, even the difficult parts - we build a stronger path toward a healthier, more connected future.

Growing up in Africa, I learned that before schools sytems were in place, children gathered around grandparents in the evenings to learn through stories. No matter how advanced technology becomes, we always return to the basics: stories connect us.

How are you strengthening your storytelling to influence and inspire during change?

Marilyn, this is beautifully said. Also, sharing the article. In my experience, when we open space for multiple voices and stories, diversity in people begin to see themselves in the change-which is where ownership and resilience take root. I love the practices you've shared for strengthening storytelling. Thank you for sparking such an important reminder about the role of story in change..

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Tammie Ray

Original Message:
Sent: 2025-08-21 20:36
From: Marilyn Wamalwa
Subject: Impactful Story telling

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for uniting people during mergers and transformations. As a Forbes article puts it: "Stories make meaning out of our messy pile of memories." When we commit to telling stories - of common purpose, of differences, even the difficult parts - we build a stronger path toward a healthier, more connected future.

Growing up in Africa, I learned that before schools sytems were in place, children gathered around grandparents in the evenings to learn through stories. No matter how advanced technology becomes, we always return to the basics: stories connect us.

How are you strengthening your storytelling to influence and inspire during change?

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Marilyn Wamalwa
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Thank you, Frank, Tammie, and Tanya, for sharing such thoughtful insights-it really added depth to the discussion!

Building on that momentum, I wanted to share an image from a recent Gartner webinar I attended that ties in nicely with our conversation. 

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Marilyn Wamalwa

Original Message:
Sent: 2025-09-24 08:36
From: Tammie Ray
Subject: Impactful Story telling

Marilyn, this is beautifully said. Also, sharing the article. In my experience, when we open space for multiple voices and stories, diversity in people begin to see themselves in the change-which is where ownership and resilience take root. I love the practices you've shared for strengthening storytelling. Thank you for sparking such an important reminder about the role of story in change..

------------------------------
Tammie Ray

Original Message:
Sent: 2025-08-21 20:36
From: Marilyn Wamalwa
Subject: Impactful Story telling

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for uniting people during mergers and transformations. As a Forbes article puts it: "Stories make meaning out of our messy pile of memories." When we commit to telling stories - of common purpose, of differences, even the difficult parts - we build a stronger path toward a healthier, more connected future.

Growing up in Africa, I learned that before schools sytems were in place, children gathered around grandparents in the evenings to learn through stories. No matter how advanced technology becomes, we always return to the basics: stories connect us.

How are you strengthening your storytelling to influence and inspire during change?

------------------------------
Marilyn Wamalwa
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