--- title: Does Organizational Storytelling Replace Abstract Analysis? description: Storytelling doesn’t replace analytical thinking; instead, storytelling supplements it. Organizational storytelling helps drive behaviors and actions. image: https://www.donnellyeffect.com/hs-fs/hub/473127/file-2606945641.jpg --- [![Donnelly-Group_Logo](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/hubfs/Donnelly-Group_Logo.png "Donnelly-Group_Logo")](https://www.donnellyeffect.com) [(410) 212-4471](tel:4102124471) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/donnelly-effect/) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/donnellyeffect) - About - [About Us](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/about-us) - [What We Do](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/about-us-what-we-do) - [Who We Serve](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/about-us-who-we-serve) - [Our Executive Team](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/our-executive-team) - [Our Story](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/about-our-story) - Training - [Signature Service Programs](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/signature-service-programs) - [Kickstart](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/signature-service-programs-kickstart) - [Impact](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/signature-service-programs-impact) - [Ignite](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/signature-service-programs-ignite) - [Training Types](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/training-types) - [Executive Leadership](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/training-types-executive-leadership-development-workshops) - [Managers & Supervisors](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/training-types-manager-supervisor-training-workshops) - [Front-Line Employees](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/training-types-front-line-employee-development-training) - [Training Topics](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/training-topics) - [Customer Service](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/customer-service-training) - [Leadership](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/leadership-training) - [People Management](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/people-management-training) - [Service Culture](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/service-culture-training) - [Talent Selection & Hiring](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/talent-selection-hiring-training) - [Employee Onboarding](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/employee-onboarding-training) - [Training Delivery Methods](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/training-delivery-methods) - [Keynote Speaking](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/keynote-speaking) - Resources - [SPARKS! Blog](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog) - [Our Book: Unlock the Magic](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/unlock-the-magic) - [Book a Consultation](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/contact-us-donnelly-effect) #### SPARKS! Blog ### Subscribe to SPARKS! Blog ![SPARKS Blog Image-1](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/hubfs/SPARKS%20Blog%20Image-1.jpg "SPARKS Blog Image-1") # SPARKS! Blog Get inspiration and ideas delivered right to your inbox! ## ![DoesOrganizationalStorytellingReplaceAnalyticalDecisionMaking](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/hs-fs/hub/473127/file-2606945641.jpg?width=405&name=file-2606945641.jpg) #### The greatest leaders in the world- religious, corporate, political, familial, educational, etc. capture the hearts and minds of their audience through well-crafted and strategic stories.  This "narrative leadership" uses the art of storytelling to connect with an audience, drive behaviors, and transform.   Through organizational [storytelling](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog-2/think-storytelling-is-fluff-think-again), we can affect the trust and belief our employees and teams have in our organizations.  We can share the organization's greatest triumphs, rocky past, and dreams for the future.  These types of stories are effective in shaping our culture and ultimately affecting our organization’s destiny. Most business leaders are accustomed to operating with an analytical mind-set; looking to analysis and cold hard facts to drive business thinking and decision-making. Storytelling is still relevant to these leaders as it doesn’t replace analytical thinking; instead, storytelling supplements it.  People don’t emotionally connect with graphs, charts, data and statistics. People emotionally connect with people. Connecting both left brain and right brain skills make for the most effective leadership.  Stories, at their heart, are about people- and engage the right brain.  Abstract analysis engages the left brain.  Analysis is easier to understand and connect with when seen through the lens of a well crafted story about how the numbers affected people and their actions. Emotional connections drive actions and actions drives destiny. As leaders we must connect with our teams emotionally- through storytelling- if we are to [affect behavior](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog-2/ignite-your-customer-experience-via-storytelling) and motivate people not only to action but to action with enthusiasm.   Walt Disney, one of the world's greatest narrative leaders, utilized abstract analysis to make organizational decisions. And he used stories to exchange ideas and provoke feelings based on these decisions- resulting in organizational excellence.  In his words: "Our heritage and ideals, our code and standards - the things we live by and teach our children - are preserved or diminished by how freely we exchange ideas and feelings." **Are you ready to begin narrative leadership through storytelling?** [![organizational storytelling ideas leadership](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/473127/81841bbc-4ca9-42b8-932b-57035cf43d1f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/473127/81841bbc-4ca9-42b8-932b-57035cf43d1f)  More posts you may enjoy: - [Think Storytelling is Fluff?  Think Again!](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog-2/think-storytelling-is-fluff-think-again) - [Leadership Storytelling: The Secret to Going from Good to Great](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog-2/leadership-storytelling-from-good-to-great) - [Ignite Your Customer Experience via Storytelling](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog-2/ignite-your-customer-experience-via-storytelling)  ***This post is based on insights from [Hugh Kincaid](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/home/about/meet-hugh-kincaid-disney-institute-speaker). Hugh has spent over four decades learning and teaching leadership insights in the foremost storytelling organization in the world, the Walt Disney Company.*** **ABOUT DONNELLY EFFECT: With over 20 years of Disney leadership experience, Mike Donnelly, Chief Experience Officer (CEO) of Donnelly Effect shares his insights on Talent Selection and Hiring, Employee Onboarding, Customer Experience, Workplace Culture and Leadership- among others.  Donnelly Effect is home of the exclusive "World-Class Workshop" series and offers consulting services and keynote addresses to audiences of all sizes and industries. Since 2007, Mike Donnelly has been a contracted Disney Institute Facilitator, delivering Disney training to audiences across the United States.** Topics: [Storytelling](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog/topic/storytelling) [Leadership](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog/topic/leadership) [Disney Service](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog/topic/disney-service) [Organizational Storytelling](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog/topic/organizational-storytelling) #### Leave a Comment: #### Related posts - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.donnellyeffect.com%2Fsparks-blog%2Fwait-what-everybody-doesnt-do-this&t=Wait,%20what?%20Everybody%20doesn't%20do%20this) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.donnellyeffect.com%2Fsparks-blog%2Fwait-what-everybody-doesnt-do-this&text=:%20) - [Linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.donnellyeffect.com%2Fsparks-blog%2Fwait-what-everybody-doesnt-do-this&title=Wait,%20what?%20Everybody%20doesn't%20do%20this??&summary=) - [googleplus](https://plus.google.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.donnellyeffect.com%2Fsparks-blog%2Fwait-what-everybody-doesnt-do-this) #### [Wait, what? Everybody doesn't do this??](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog/wait-what-everybody-doesnt-do-this) [Mike Donnelly](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog/author/mike-donnelly) | March 7, 2016 Looking back, growing up professionally at the Walt Disney Company was more of a privilege than I ever realized. Until very... #### Related posts - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.donnellyeffect.com%2Fsparks-blog%2Fleadership&t=Leadership%20and%20Organizational%20Storytelling) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.donnellyeffect.com%2Fsparks-blog%2Fleadership&text=:%20) - [Linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.donnellyeffect.com%2Fsparks-blog%2Fleadership&title=Leadership%20and%20Organizational%20Storytelling&summary=) - [googleplus](https://plus.google.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.donnellyeffect.com%2Fsparks-blog%2Fleadership) #### [Leadership and Organizational Storytelling](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog/leadership) [Donnelly Effect](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog/author/donnelly-effect) | May 15, 2015 Storytelling is an essential leadership skill to shape behavior, improve employee engagement and gain customer loyalty. #### Posted by:- [Donnelly Effect](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog/author/donnelly-effect) ### Posts by Topic - [Leadership (85)](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog/topic/leadership) - [Customer Service (82)](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog/topic/customer-service) - [Disney Service (78)](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog/topic/disney-service) - [Effective Leadership (72)](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog/topic/effective-leadership) - [Employee Experience (67)](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog/topic/employee-experience) ### Unlock the Magic! ![Unlock the Magic_3D book image L-3](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Unlock%20the%20Magic_3D%20book%20image%20L-3.png?width=200&name=Unlock%20the%20Magic_3D%20book%20image%20L-3.png "Unlock the Magic_3D book image L-3") [Buy Now!](https://www.lulu.com/shop/michael-j-donnelly/unlock-the-magic-50-key-strategies-to-unlock-the-magic-in-your-organization-from-my-years-as-a-leader-at-the-walt-disney-company/ebook/product-1p72vqgv.html?hsCtaTracking=8ceba83f-c058-4571-94c1-04f6bbea79a8%7C59ac7eef-e766-4b0d-8f0b-5bdbaeb25740&page=1&pageSize=4) ### Donnelly Effect In Action   ### Recent Articles ### Popular Articles ![Donnelly Group_Logo-2](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Donnelly%20Group_Logo-2.png?width=200&height=71&name=Donnelly%20Group_Logo-2.png "Donnelly Group_Logo-2") Creating customer loyalty by preparing people to work happy. - Annapolis, MD - [(410) 212-4471](http://#) - [mike@donnellyeffect.com](mailto:mike@donnellyeffect.com) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/DonnellyEffect) - [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/donnelly-effect/) #### Explore - [What We Do](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/about-us-what-we-do) - [Who We Serve](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/about-us-who-we-serve) - [Signature Service Programs](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/signature-service-programs) - [Training Types](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/training-types) - [Training Topics](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/training-topics) - [Speaking](https://www.donnellyeffect.com/keynote-speaking) #### About Us Applying decades of Disney professional development & leadership experience, we help destination locations create customer loyalty by preparing their people to WORK HAPPY. #### Recent SPARKS! Blog Posts © Copyright 2022 | All Rights Reserved | The Donnelly Group ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Donnelly Effect", "url" : "https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog/author/donnelly-effect" }, "datePublished" : "2015-03-19T12:30:00.000Z", "headline" : "Does Organizational Storytelling Replace Abstract Analysis? ", "image" : [ "https://www.donnellyeffect.com/hs-fs/hub/473127/file-2606945641.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.donnellyeffect.com/sparks-blog/does-organizational-storytelling-replace-abstract-analysis", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.donnellyeffect.com/hubfs/Donnelly-Group_Logo.png" }, "name" : "Donnelly Effect" } } ```