Sometimes that’s through my own storytelling. Sometimes it’s by asking them to tell their stories, then discussing how “this” applies to that. Telling and listening.

One of the best stories I’ve ever read — cover to cover as if it were a suspense novel — was Whale Done. That’s an especially timely reference as we all watch SeaWorld respond to the recent tragedy of losing trainer Dawn Brancheau. The book explained the animal behavior techniques SeaWorld uses as a large direct correlation and metaphor for more positive interaction in all human relationships. You can apply it to parenting, managing, and so forth. I spent a lot of time using the book itself as a reference point for many of my own stories. More stories within stories.