Using Storytelling to Motivate a Team
How Alexander the Great stopped a Mutiny.
By August 324, the Persian Empire fell to an army 1/5th its size.
Alexander the Great has conquered the Persian Empire with an army of 50,000 vs the 250,000 Persian army.
The attack on the Persian empire was retroactive revenge on the Persian’s attempted invasion of Greece. Alexander’s father, Philip II, created a world-class Macedonian army before he died. Alexander’s strategy secured their victory against the Persians and created an empire that stretched from Greece to India.
And on August 324, Alexander’s solders mutinied.
Why are his Soldiers revolting?
After the battle, Alexander announced he would send him Macedonians who were injured or too old for continued service.
But his men took this an insult. Since they conquered Persia, Alexander adopted Persian customs like wearing flashy clothes. He also brought in non-Greek men into his army. Alexnader was destroying their way of life, their values. How can he abandon them like this?
Tensions boiled below the surface for a while until on August 324, his men disobeyed direct orders.
How Alexander handled it.
The men refused to leave and openly mocked Alexnader.
First, Alexander responded to the mutiny by arresting 13 “conspicuous troublemakers” and killing them. This stunned the army. No one spoke.
And gave Alexander the chance to deliver his famous speech:
Galvanizing the Troops
The speech stunned the army & what Alexander did next won them over.
After the speech, Alexander returned to his tent and refused to see anyone for 2 days. On the 3rd day, he invited the most senior Persian members and granted them command over his unit. He made the Persian’s “kinsmen”, essentially family.
Seeing this, the Macedonians came to Alexander asking for forgiveness and wanting to be his Kinsmen.
What made Alexander’s speech power was persuasive storytelling for 3 big reason:
- Visualizing their dynamic with Alexander.
- Putting into perspective their victories.
- Helping the Army realize their journey.
Dynamic with Alexander:
He didn’t create an “us vs them” mentality. He mentioned the great efforts of his father, Philip II, and how Alexander has continued his mission. Alexander describes his fellow countrymen was neighbors and reminds them of their journey from wearing sheepskins to civilized city dwellers.
Helping the army realize their journey:
By comparing the wealth, the army has won to Alexander’s purple cloak and diadem, he humbles himself and puts himself beneath the army. The speech helps the army realize their journey, their struggle, and their victories from serving under Philip II’s leadership to Alexanders.
Put their victories into Perspective:
Alexander talks about all the wealth from Egypt and Cyrene and how it wouldn’t have been possible without the army. The treasures and riches belong to the army, and what does Alexander have from the labors, “a purple cloak and diadem”.
Instead of the army serving Alexander, it was Alexander serving the army.
Leaders use storytelling to help their teams:
- Understand the journey they’ve accomplished.
- Put the victories into perspective.
Storytelling is a powerful tool if you use it in the right way at the right moment.
