The Secret Language of Leadership: How Leaders Inspire Action Through Narrative

by Stephen Denning

The book introduces the concept of narrative intelligence― an ability to understand and act and react agilely in the quicksilver world of interacting narratives. It shows why this is key to the central task of leadership, what its dimensions are, and how you can measure it. The book’s lucid explanations, vivid examples and practical tips are essential reading for CEOs, managers, change agents, marketers, salespersons, brand managers, politicians, teachers, parents―anyone who is setting out to the change the world.

Genres: Leadership, Business, Nonfiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2007

Reviews

[Brittany Hargrave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valuable takeaway: Leading with reasons/facts when trying to persuade a hostile audience can backfire thanks to confirmation bias, which causes a skeptical audience to mentally spar and reframe every statistic until they leave the discussion more entrenched in their original perspectives. It is more effective to build your case by starting with an emotional narrative and ending with reasons.

Especially interesting was Denning’s case study of Al Gore. Denning outlines how Gore tried to position himself as a transformational leader during the 2000 election, but Gore made mistake after mistake. It wasn’t until Gore entered his “An Inconvenient Truth” era that he discovered the importance of narrative intelligence and was able to convince people to follow him.

[Mihaela Chiriac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring. Good insight and perception about impact of a good reasoning and story behind every project, look into how to get value from the team. Absolutely recommend it

[John Loy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow read,however found some interesting points on the difference between narrative and story.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

What we have in Denning’s latest and most valuable book is his development in much greater depth of information and insights he previously introduced in The Springboard, Squirrel, Inc., and The Leader’s Guide to Storytelling. He also shares his thoughts about other dimensions of transformational leadership because he realized that “narrative wasn’t the whole story. The secrets of leadership lay not only in the stories that were being told but also in the way the leadership goals themselves were formulated. Leaders could also use other tools like frames, questions, offers, challenges, metaphors, reasons, and so on.” Denning explains how these and various other communication tools relate to each other, which are best for the given purpose (i.e. explain, inspire, entertain, and/or convince), and how all these tools can be "combined in a seamless leadership message" that can attract and (more importantly) then capture people's attention. In order to become fluent in "the secret language of leadership," Denning suggests, it is necessary to understand how transformational leadership can "communicate complex ideas and spark others into enduringly enthusiastic action," how those who are transformational leaders select and use words "to inspire others to become leaders."

To sum up, Denning asserts that “sustained, enthusiastic change doesn’t occur by osmosis or extrasensory perception. If leaders’ inner commitment to change is to have any effect, they have to communicate it to the people they aspire to lead. True, the leaders’ actions will eventually speak louder than words, but in the short run, it’s what leaders say – or don’t say – that has the impact. The right words can have a galvanizing effect, generating enthusiasm, energy, momentum, and more, while the wrong words can undermine the best intentions and kill initiative on the spot, stone dead.”

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leading with a passion

This isn’t just another book about how to become a better manager; it’s about how to use language to become an “inspirational leader” who can bring about transformation and lasting change. Stephen Denning explains that transformational leadership is not the sole providence of an extraordinary few. Anyone with enough vision, commitment and grit to master a basic set of skills that he calls the “language of transformational leadership” can become a leader who creates change. Denning turns away from aloof reasoning and dusty information, and advocates being provocative and inspirational instead. His only lapse is a love of repetition. getAbstract believes that leaders who want to master persuasive advocacy will enjoy this in-depth guide.

[Agile Kindergarten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally agree with Denning’s core message that effective leaders have “narrative intelligence,” which taps into our innate and emotional attachment to stories. My favorite take-away is Denning’s articulation of a way to leverage confirmation bias. Instead of building an argument with reasons that culminate in a proposal, start with a story that engages the audience emotionally. Take the time to put them in the story in a role where they can see themselves succeeding. Then present reasons. Denning proposes three especially effective story archtypes are using a 3rd person character with whom the audience can identify (what), describing the here to there path (how), explain the causal factors and inevitability of change (why).

[Rangi Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main message of this book is that you shouldn't try to convince people of things with logic and reasoning but rather use stories to grab attention and stimulate desire before finally reinforcing with reasoning. He describes some interesting experiments demonstrating that trying to use reasoning to convince people of things simply makes them cling even more tightly to their original views. He also discusses the general approach for forming effective stories and what sorts of stories should be used when. I think it could have been a bit shorter but overall I liked it and would recommend it to anyone looking to effect change in their work or otherwise.

[Henrik · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an interesting book, with some valuable information. However, I find that the quality varies strongly from chapter to chapter. Some you can read effortlessly, and others are so hard to read I can read them twice and still not know whether I got the message or not.

Overall the book doesn't present something new and revolutionary, and does definitively not teach you any secret language. It does, however, competently take you through how to make your message stronger and more convincing through stories.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Denning creates a straw man of the way business people typically communicate: analyze a problem logically, then give a solution. If only business people were actually so logical! Then, he offers a better alternative: get attention, create desire, satisfy the desire. But this is the ancient Greek rhetorical method! It has been around for a couple thousand years! How could it still be 'the secret language of leadership'? Aaarrgh.

[Graeme Mcliesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have found many books on leadership focus on the personal qualities of leadership. In contrast this book looks at the approach of leadership. This book contrasts the approach of Al Gore during his failed Presidential campaign as contrasted with his success communicating An Inconvenient Truth.

This book identifies the keys of successful leadership in terms of inspiration through narrative. It is an approach I find both inspiring and thought provoking. I strongly recommend this book.

[Colin Pearce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the idea. At first read the book didn't sell me on the concept, and I wanted to be sold.

[Brett]

This is a great read and highly recommended!