Solunis Nicole Bay is an executive coach in leadership development and a partner at Evolution.

By Solunis Nicole Bay

Stories are valuable. They’re vehicles for our values, hopes and dreams. The power to change a story takes reflection, grit, boundaries and a strategy.

Stories are at the core of our beliefs and visions. We also use stories to build teams and enroll others in larger, collective goals.

My story has changed at least twice; I’ve lived three lives. Each time I was on the verge of change, one thing became clear: forced actions were unnecessary. Amid changing my narrative and that of my clients, surrendering to change and strategy were the best allies.

Although efforting can limit our ability to see options, different outcomes and clarity of longings, it helps us dream about our path forward but decreases energy required for change.

Reflecting on what works can result in shedding “darlings” - the things and ways of being that we hold dear but that do not serve our larger goals and dreams. We journal to record daily actions, thoughts, feelings and desires. Do we go back for lessons? For annual company reviews, there are gems.

Aggregating common themes and looking at outliers can be inspirational. When Nikole Hannah-Jones accepted tenure at Howard University over her alma mater, her choice sent shockwaves through academia about integrity, values, and vision.

Remember: your initiation period is visible; be daring in your vulnerability. People love certainty, and the change will help to reignite the organizational process of forming, storming, norming and performing.

When done well and with a focus on diversity, the process will clarify what matters most to you and your team and result in a dedicated, trusting, trusted, creative team of originators, innovators, sustainers and accelerators.

The genius of stories? They’re changeable. As meaning-making creatures, humans love stories, and we have every opportunity to rewrite them as we desire.

““As meaning-making creatures, humans love stories, and we have every opportunity to rewrite them as we desire.” — Solunis Nicole Bay @EvolutionSVC #PowerToChangeStories”

Solunis Nicole Bay is an executive and leadership coach based in Chatanooga, Tenn., partner at Evolution, and author of A Recipe for Pleasure. https://twitter.com/EvolutionSvc ; https://www.linkedin.com/in/solunisnicolebayadams/ ; https://evolution.team ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolution-service-corporation/