Beauty and Danger: When Leaders Should Not Tell Stories: Jo Tyler at TEDxPSU

Jo Tyler, Associate Professor of Training and Development at Penn State, is an educator, storyteller, organizational consultant, and mosaic artist. When she discovered there were no jobs for high school English teachers in 1982, she got an MS in Technical Writing and went to work for Hewlett-Packard. She learned how an organization can look, feel, and smell when it's functioning well. For the next 20 years she worked in organizations that were NOT functioning well, helping them claim or reclaim that look, feel, and smell. She moved up in companies like Otis Elevator and Armstrong until she reached the level of vice president where politics are rich and trust is poor. She realized that her truest allies were stories. Moving through the world listening to them, connecting them, and telling them, she fell in love with stories.

Jo knew that stories were the foundation for her success, but she didn't know how or why. So, she went to Columbia University to research applied storytelling in organizations. At Penn State she has expanded this exploration to deepen our understanding of the dynamics of stories, telling, and listening in organizations of all sorts. She has also begun to study how visual arts pair with storytelling to foster learning and create novelty. She is deeply interested in the ways we can foster spaces where authentic stories can emerge, where the telling of stories is fearless, and where the listening is expansive. This is the type of work Jo hopes to pursue until her time runs out.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[jotyler]

Thanks for the kind words buddy. I'm proud right back at ya friend! Can't wait to see you in Kentucky for more stories. It's been too long....

[Kanegis]

Brilliant Jo... you've said what has been left unsaid for too long. Become a listener when you don't have an authentic story for the moment. Yes! Beyond this... a beautifully constructed presentation, and you walked the talk!

[jotyler]

Thanks Bob! Listening is too often an overlooked skill in organizations these days.

[jotyler]

Hey there John! Great to hear from you! I was just talking the other day about the Manchester breakfast. Never saw anything like it before or since! And of course there was the story about evening at the Savoy....

[nicoleshields]

I love this. Im glad my professor Nancy Goldman asked us to view this video. Thought provoking!

[tongasstrails]

Thanks, Jo! I loved the lion analogy.

[jotyler]

I'm so glad you liked the lions Pete! I'm glad it worked.

[johndisney]

Hi Jo,
Great story.
Do you remember the story of the Fentiman, the Greyhound and the Manchester breakfast? Now we have people wondering!

John Dis