This past weekend I visited the 911 Memorial Museum in lower Manhattan, NYC. Although I reside and work in the Metro-NYC area, I haven’t had a chance to see this precious site. I remember September 11th so vividly as do so many people in this part of the country. I have such incredible memories of that day, including a panic of waiting for my husband to come home from work safely from his NYC office on that day. It was a frightening day and I knew visiting this site would bring back emotions and sadness. I just didn’t realize how much sorrow I still carry within me and the profound impact that day had on my being. It all came flowing back with my visit as I watched leaders emerge as heroes. 911 was a day of extraordinary leadership and survival.
What made the memorial come alive for me were the stories shared by survivors, relatives of those who perished and all those who worked so hard to rescue those trapped in the two towers. They all led through their brave actions and we all hear about their courage through storytelling.
[Tweet “Storytelling helps leaders bring their actions to life.”]
Here is how storytelling helps leaders:
STORIES CAPTURE OUR EMOTIONS
The moment you walk onto the promenade of the North and South Pools you feel something well-up inside of you. Seeing the thousands of visitors reading all the names alongside the pools tugs at your heart. The infinity pools pull us in and we are ready to let go and experience our emotions. The pools begin to tell the narrative of that tragic day.
STORIES ARE RELATABLE
Inside the memorial there are pictures, artifacts and stories about the 3,000 people in the two towers. Some of the stories are told through the voices of family members and some are on notes written by the victims. We can each connect with a story or an object. We grow to learn about the everyday and extraordinary lives of these beautiful souls.
STORIES MAKE IMPORTANT POINTS
Through storytelling, the visitors get to see what actually happened on that horrific day and why it happened. We also see the brave NY police and firefighters risking their lives, not realizing what was actually about to take place for each of them. Listening and viewing the burned remnants transforms you.
STORIES BUILD FUTURE LEADERS
When we share stories of how we lead in difficult situations, we are offering lessons and knowledge to grow from. We describe ways to be better prepared and skilled. We suggest areas to improve through training and coaching. We help develop future leaders to be more aware and capable. By opening up through stories, future leaders see our vulnerabilities as well as our courage to be better.
We hope to never see another tragedy like 911 again. If you can visit this exquisite memorial, do take the time. You will not regret it. Just know your heart and mind will be profoundly opened.
How have stories helped you to be a stronger, more effective leader?
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!
Thank you so much for this post Terri…. Excellent. Very well written. I have shared with my community. {{Hugs}}
Thanks so much Cynthia! I was really inspired with the memorial and how it magnificently displayed all the leadership and heroism of that time.
Sending hugs back…
Love this post, Terri!
Stories have a magical way of engaging our brain at deeper levels. We are visual creatures and stories help us both imagine how the incident unfolded but also allows us to insert ourselves at some point into the drama.
I still remember the stories that my fellow FBI agents told me upon my arrival at my new squad…stories that reminded me that not everyone is perfect but that everyone had my back….
What a great way to say it, “Stories have a magical way of engaging our brain at deeper levels.” Through stories we do get the opportunity to participate with all of our senses. We get to experience the sounds and the visuals and bring them into our familiar world.
Thanks LaRae for your thoughtful comments. And I hope you know I have your back as well. 🙂
Terri,
I vividly remember that morning and it’s one, like most Americans, I’ll never forget. I was working in HR and had to try to locate our employees working in NYC and in the Pentagon on the phone to confirm their safety. They were fortunate, so many others were not.
Must have been a truly powerful experience to visit the memorial. It’s the stories of so many brave men and women and of the people we lost that will stay with us forever. Stories touch us in a way that facts alone never can.
Thanks, Terri.
~ Alli
I so appreciate you sharing your profound memory of that day. It’s so fascinating how each of us can remember that day so vividly.
I wasn’t sure I was ready to visit the memorial but on some level I just had to.
Yes stories captivate people in a very different way from mere facts. That’s why storytelling is an important skill for all leaders.
Thank you Alli!
I took Sebastian to visit the memorial a few years ago while Marcus was running the NYC marathon. The events were so vivid for me (I happened to not be working in my NYC office that day, although may of my team was), and I distinctly remember every hour of that day. I shared all my stories with 9 year old Seb. They matter.
I just wonder what our younger generation thinks and feels, like Seb. For those of us who lived through it, the memories are so real and will stay with us forever. Similar to you, every person has a story to share of where they were or were not. I guess that is how we lead with our stories about this tragic, life changing day.
Thanks for sharing Karin! I so appreciate your insights.
Terri, Alli and Karin – I can only imagine how that day would have felt my husband or co-workers were in the area.
I was in Phoenix on a business trip. When the reports started coming in I wondered if I was watching a movie or live news. Then worried about WWIII starting. I was traveling with a co-worker that had flown for the first time ever to get to that meeting. She was really struggling and just wanted to go home. (But even if the planes had not been grounded, flying was NOT an option for her!) My husband was in Houston. It took several days and eventually a road trip before I got home to his arms.
I’ll never forget the flags that were EVERYWHERE or the connection we felt with others as we all grieved and were reminded how important our freedom is to us.
Those events helped me understand how my parents so vividly recall Kennedy’s assassination.
I’m glad you continue to share your stories!
Thanks Chery for sharing your personal story on that day.
We each have our powerful memories that will help us cope and move forward.Freedom is something we all need to be grateful for and cherish.
Thanks for your narrative!