From neural networks to narratives, how story telling can help in the workplace

By Sarah Bird, who is a professional business writer and editor with more than 30 years of experience working with large corporate organisations. As we enter the era of automation and artificial intelligence (AI), business leaders should encourage employees to make human stories their differentiator.

When I spoke with Bobby Kerr recently on his “Down to Business” podcast about midlife career transformation, his parting comment was: “Well I’ll be 65 this year and hopefully there’s some hope for me in the employment market!” With his ample helping of Irish charm and interview skills, I can’t imagine Bobby being out of work any time soon. But there are plenty of other people who have found themselves unemployed—myself included.  After 30 years of consistent freelance work as a business writer with a global management consultancy, I was “let go” in favour of AI software. An indication of who’s winning in the “man versus machine” debate or an opportunity to change our career narrative?

From neural networks to narratives

Recent research supports the idea that midlifers may be struggling more than most. The World Health Organization has acknowledged that every second person in the world is believed to hold ageist attitudes. While nearly one in five over 55s (19%) responded to another study that they did not feel confident enough in their current skillset to find new employment or pivot their career if they were to lose their current job, compared with one in 10 (8%) of under 55s.

Even the national press notes bias for those seeking work in their 50s and 60s, made worse by automated application tracking systems and algorithms. As one candidate summed up: “After six months of tumbleweed, it got to the point that I had to stop job-hunting for the sake of my mental health. I felt completely invisible”.

Fears and concerns are often fuelled by the positioning of technology and its influence on the workforce. In 2023, an MIT Technology Review article reported an interview between the UK prime minister at the time, Rishi Sunak, and Elon Musk where the latter declared there will come a time when “no job is needed,” thanks to an AI “magic genie that can do everything you want”.

Embrace multi-storied lives

But it’s easy to hear only one side of the story. As we learn more about the brain, we recognise that firing neurons repeatedly creates pathways in the brain—and can mean negative stories stick. Yet we all have access to neuroplasticity; that is, our brain’s ability to rewire itself. Studies among midlifers show it’s still possible to develop new neural pathways even later in life by undertaking such tasks as learning a new language or a musical instrument.

Adapting our mindsets has become even more critical in recent years. Since the pandemic, our personal and professional lives have blended in an unprecedented way, opening the door to some of the techniques that separated those lives in the past. One such technique is Narrative Practice. The birthchild of therapists Michael White and David Epston, Narrative Practice helps people to express deep seated concerns or challenges and uses powerful storytelling tools to liberate those who feel stuck with thoughts or behaviours that are questionable, inaccurate or simply unhelpful.

Based on the idea that we are all experts in our own lives, Narrative Practice is a respectful, non-blaming approach that focuses on empowering the individual—and can be adapted to enhance the workforce of the future. Applying these tools could benefit leaders and innovate the retention and engagement of the workforce by externalising problems to diffuse challenging situations, reframing personal narratives to encourage authenticity and reinventing the narrative across the business to spur collaboration.

Three steps to career storytelling

No matter what our age, we’re all work-in-progress. Reframing thoughts and attitudes is not easy but accepting that resilience is a lifelong project and making storytelling part of every individual’s DNA can lead to career transformation.

Here’s three tips that can help:

• Tell the story: Employ Narrative Practice techniques; visit nynclub.co.uk for a free Workbook of exercises. Put thoughts into words and make it a muscle memory.

• Evaluate the story: Follow and connect career “red threads”—those constant underlying themes that help to define purpose. No experience is every wasted and can be part of an unfolding “master plan” over time.

• Refresh the story: Collaborate continuously. Engage in continuous learning and involve others to verify and create a career story ongoing.

Global management consultant firm McKinsey has found that thoughtful approaches, such as storytelling, could improve company cultures beyond employee engagement.  By refreshing our personal narrative using storytelling, it’s possible to reinforce our strengths, increase resilience and encourage flexibility and inclusivity. Such outcomes can inspire innovation, creativity and authenticity—personal qualities that can augment the work of machine learning tools any day.

Nail Your Narrative: How to Use Storytelling to Reinvent Your Career in Midlife by Sarah Bird is out now, priced £9.99

Sarah Bird is a professional business writer and editor with more than 30 years of experience working with large corporate organisations. She is the writer and coach for two training programmes for post-education jobseekers and students in education. Her book: Nail Your Narrative reveals how to embrace storytelling to unlock your full potential in midlife. Gain a resilient mindset and change the narrative you’re telling yourself and others by downloading a FREE practical Workbook at https://www.nynclub.co.uk/.

See more breaking stories here.