How to Use Hero Stories Today

Heroes help you thrive.

A hero helps you imagine who you can become.

“Without heroes, we are all plain people and don’t know how far we can go.” Bernard Malamud

Heroes and culture:

Stories build culture. The loss of heroes impoverishes a culture. One of my coaching clients graduated from West Point. The military builds a sense of honor, duty, and sacrifice by telling hero stories. While writing this post I learned one.

Audie Murphy received every military combat award for valor available from the United States Army, including the Medal of Honor – as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism. He single-handedly held off a company of German soldiers for an hour at the Colmar Pocket in France. Then he led a successful counterattack while wounded and out of ammunition.

Heroes embody values we admire – courage, compassion, sacrifice, and integrity, for example. They call us to rise.

Audie Murphy doesn’t inspire us until we know his story.

A lesser degree:

You might not be surrounded by heroes like Audie Murphy, but some of the people around you are heroic. They generously give themselves to advantage others. Tell their stories.

1. Managers who consistently work to improve their craft.
2. People who go the extra mile without complaining.
3. Leaders who model qualities you want in every employee.

They tell stories of S. Truett Cathy picking up trash at Chick-fil-A (He founded the company). His story builds a servant-leadership culture.

You find energy when you notice heroic qualities in people around you.

What stories are you telling? Are you focused on the problem or the people who solve problems?

What hero story could you tell today?

3 Reasons Smart Leaders Tell Stories – How You Can Too

6 Steps in Building a New Culture

We’re delighted to see The Vagrant being recognized.

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