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Well here's a thoughtful piece as we wind up 2012 that gets me thinking about the role of storytelling in business.  

This article is all about the ongoing shifts occuring in business and I think story dynamics and narrative work are both shaping/influencing these shifts, as well as being a vehicle for finding meaning. I am not sure if the popularity of biz storytelling is the cause, the effect, or a combo of both -- but it is fascinating to think about.

What I love about this article by Alex Pattakos and Elaine Dundon is they coin a new word -- anthrocapitalism -- and talk about how this is more than just 'corporate social responsibility'. And they educate us about the origins of the word 'philanthropy' and its role in rethinking capitalism. They go on to talk about how our economy is shifting away from transaction to engagement and what this really means.

Great food for thought. They also give examples of companies who are embodying 'anthroeconomics', creating meaningful work, promoting a deeper purpose, and increasing their profits at the same time.

As the authors say at the end: "The shift towards anthrocapitalism represents a new role for leaders and a new role for organizations. It’s time to ask what you as a leader and inspirational role model can do to focus on both doing well and doing good, making the world a better place."

So what is the role of storytelling here and its meaning-making abilities? Is storytelling the impetus, the vehicle, or both? Or are there better questions to ask? What do you think? Hmmmmm....... 

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling atwww.scoop.it/t/just-story-it