Some workdays stay with you a little longer than others.
Today was one of those.
I had the chance to speak at APQC Connect 2026 with my colleague Tamara Viles, and we spent a couple of hours with a room full of people exploring something simple but powerful: storytelling.
I had a great time talking about something I have come to believe in deeply. Storytelling at work. Or just storytelling, period.
In our work, we have seen how even simple, well-told stories can make a difference. They help ideas land, connect people across teams, and bring meaning to complex work.
In a world full of information, stories are what people remember. We can hear data, but we can participate in a story. There is a sense of agency and engagement that comes alive when communication is story-based.
We shared a few practical ways to make storytelling part of everyday work, and saw storyteller participants grow in the space of our short two hours together. The majority of the time in the workshop was having our participants practice the art of storytelling using a simple structure: Challenge → Choice → Outcome.
What struck me most was how quickly people leaned in. Give someone a little structure, a little encouragement, and a safe space, and stories start to flow. Not perfect, polished stories. Real ones.
The kind that help us understand each other.
The kind that make work feel a little more human.
It is always energizing to be with a group that cares about knowledge, people, and how we learn from each other.
And it is a good reminder, whether at work, around a table, or at the Tree House, that stories are one of the ways we show up for each other.
Speaking of showing up for each other, this was about the eleventeenth time Tammy and I have presented together, and it just gets better every time. Finishing each other’s sentences and adding color and context for one another never gets old.
©️ 2026, Glover Gardens
