Most organizations believe their strategy shapes how people behave.
In reality, something quieter - and far more powerful - is at work.
Every organization is telling a story.
Not in decks or town halls.
But in small, repeated signals that people absorb over time.
What gets praised.
What gets ignored.
What happens when someone takes a risk.
What happens when someone challenges a decision.
No one announces this story.
Yet everyone knows it.
And people act accordingly.
The story beneath the strategy
You can have a bold strategy on paper.
“Innovate faster.”
“Empower teams.”
“Encourage experimentation.”
But people don’t respond to slogans.
They respond to patterns.
If ideas are invited - but quietly sidelined later - the story becomes:
“Don’t push too hard.”
If speed is celebrated - but mistakes are punished - the story becomes:
“Play safe, even if we say move fast.”
If leaders say “speak up”- but only familiar voices are heard - the story becomes:
“Hierarchy still wins.”
This unspoken story shapes behavior far more than any formal strategy ever will.
Why smart people adapt so quickly
What’s fascinating is how fast people learn this story.
Not because they’re cynical.
But because they’re intelligent.
They connect dots.
They notice which projects get air cover.
Which questions make the room uncomfortable.
Which narratives travel upward - and which stop midway.
Over time, behavior adjusts.
Not out of resistance.
But out of survival.
And slowly, the organization becomes very good at reinforcing the story it never intended to tell.
Leadership is narrative, whether you like it or not
Leaders are always storytelling.
Even when they think they aren’t.
Every decision adds a sentence.
Every reaction adds emphasis.
Every silence adds meaning.
The question isn’t whether a story is being told.
The question is: Is it the one you want shaping your culture?
A quiet reflection
If someone joined your organization today and watched - not listened - for six months:
What story would they tell about how things really work here?
That answer matters more than your strategy document.
Because stories don’t just explain organizations.
They train them.
More soon.
Best,
Piyush
Next: Leaders are always storytelling - not just with words.
And that’s a wrap for today.
Thank you for reading. See you in the next edition!
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