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State Civil Service panel: leaders should use concise, authentic stories to connect staff and public
Summary
State Civil Service hosted a virtual panel where Director Byron Decoteau, General Counsel Sherry Gregoire and songwriter Kiana Lanell urged leaders to use concise, mission‑driven storytelling to recruit, retain and motivate staff; panelists shared practical tips including testing stories with colleagues and keeping a ready set of short narratives.
State Civil Service held a virtual leadership session in 2026 focused on using narrative to lead, with Director Byron Decoteau, General counsel Sherry Gregoire and Grammy‑nominated songwriter Kiana Lanell offering concrete guidance on when and how leaders should tell stories.
The event opened with host Dana LaBerse presenting a participant poll showing about 45% of respondents use storytelling occasionally, 36% use it very often and roughly 12% rarely use it. Decoteau said storytelling helps employees “connect to that mission” and reminded listeners that “there’s a person behind your why,” arguing that narrative helps staff see how their work affects citizens’ health, safety and welfare.
Kiana Lanell, speaking from a songwriter’s viewpoint, urged leaders to be concise and authentic: “I have 3 and a half minutes to take you on this journey,” she said, explaining that a short, emotionally resonant structure helps sustain attention. Gregoire advised caution in formal legal settings, saying attorneys must “be their client’s voice” and should listen first, then ask targeted questions so a client’s story remains clear and strategic in court.
Panelists identified five story types leaders can use: origin stories (how a program began), vision stories (what the future could look like), values stories, change stories (how challenges were overcome) and impact stories (how work alters people’s lives). Practical tips included curating a short set of tested anecdotes, writing notes or keeping a small notebook of prompts, and rehearsing public narratives with trusted colleagues or legal counsel before using them in public or political forums.
Decoteau described a tactile example he used with staff — distributing a small image of a goldfish wearing a shark fin to symbolize mindset and innovation — to underscore that short, memorable symbols tied to a story can reinforce desired behavior. Panelists also recommended avoiding stories that would embarrass others and tailoring content to the audience; if a narrative does not advance a clear purpose, they advised, it should be omitted.
In response to chat questions about redirecting longwinded leaders, panelists suggested using a prearranged signal from a trusted team member or asking a question that ties the speaker back to the stated objective. Dana LaBerse walked attendees through slide guidance on beginning‑middle‑end structure, appealing to both emotion and logic, and invited participants to register for the next virtual session on problem solving.
The session closed with links to the Shift Initiative and other resources in the chat, a reminder to register in SuccessFactors for the April 9 session, and a note that Kiana Lanell’s new album is due April 23. The panel encouraged leaders to tell concise, mission‑centred stories and to test public narratives with colleagues before deployment.
