| Narrative and identity development is an emerging | | | | participants reclaim, renew, or enhance motivation |
| and growing method through which organizations | | | | and energy, which in turn gives rise to |
| invite individuals to (1) address the core | | | | commitment, engagement, participation, and the |
| issues-which rest at the heart of living an engaged | | | | inspiration to bring out the best in themselves and |
| and rewarding life-of meaning and significance, and | | | | others. And the narrative component provides a |
| (2) create a personal narrative, the wellspring to | | | | contextual basis often absent from or overlooked |
| improve self-confidence, clarify values, focus | | | | by many strength-based or appreciative |
| goals, and form an inspired and realistic vision of | | | | perspectives. |
| the future. While this approach may seemingly fall | | | | Because narrative and identity development heads |
| outside the scope of "professional development," | | | | directly to the heart of how someone |
| it actually goes right to its core. | | | | understands who she/he is and provides an |
| As participants experience the process, they | | | | empowering global context from which to |
| catch sight of the range of their skills and talents, | | | | respond to the challenges and satisfaction work |
| and come to see how who they want to be can | | | | provides, the process directly supports and |
| be fulfilled by taking up roles, responsibilities, and | | | | complements other internal development efforts |
| relationship in ways that support and deepen a | | | | by acting as a keystone for job-specific skill |
| sense of personal identity. The development | | | | building, behavior modeling, and technical training... |
| provides a means for participants to define, | | | | Importantly, narrative and identity development is |
| articulate, contextualize, and integrate their | | | | concrete, process driven, and results oriented. |
| passions and aspirations in terms of work and the | | | | In short, narrative and identity development helps |
| roles and responsibilities they take up at work. | | | | people to "switch on" in an honest and genuine |
| They come to see how work is meaningful, | | | | manner. |
| congruent, and integral to the notion of self. | | | | Why? Because they more closely meld the |
| This is a game changer because it ties work to | | | | meaning and significance derived from work with |
| self in ways that are often overlooked. A | | | | the overall meaning and significance of their lives. |
| common result: leadership becomes a way of | | | | Note: As for application, flavors of the process |
| living, a way of artfully responding to the | | | | support women's leadership development, |
| day-to-day, the minute-by-minute. | | | | mixed-gender leadership development, professional |
| The integrative and application focus which | | | | development and executive coaching, as well as |
| narrative and identity development provides, helps | | | | preparation for a role transition. |