01 Feb 2025 2 min read

Reconnecting Teams With Stories: The 5-Minute Ancestral Storytelling

Team's sharing stories of where they came from build a deep sense of unity and understanding.

Practice of the Week | 5-Minute Ancestral Storytelling

What Is It?
Ancestral Storytelling & Heritage Mapping borrows from cultures worldwide that honor their lineage through shared stories, rituals, or symbolic objects. By briefly reflecting on your own familial roots—and by extension, the cultural or professional “roots” of your team—you can unearth a deeper sense of unity and identity. This 5-minute exercise can serve as a powerful opener or midpoint activity during corporate offsites, reminding leaders of the legacies they carry and the future they shape.

How to Do It

Create a conducive space: Begin in a comfortable setting—perhaps seated in a circle or around a common table without digital distractions ( or at our Root Astrolabe retreat locations).
Set a timer for 5 minutes: Keep the session concise and focused, acknowledging busy executive schedules.
Identify a personal story: Think of a mentor, ancestor, or a family tradition that shaped your values.
Sketch a quick “heritage map”: On a notepad, jot down key words or names representing influential figures in your life or career.
Reflect and share (optional): If you have time, invite each person to share one brief insight. Emphasize respect and confidentiality.

Why It Works

Deeper Alignment: Research from Emory University shows that individuals who know more about their family stories demonstrate stronger well-being and resilience. Similarly, teams who share personal values can align more authentically around corporate goals.
Enhanced Empathy and Trust: Hearing colleagues’ stories fosters empathy—crucial for cohesive leadership and more effective problem-solving at the highest levels.
Meaningful Perspective: By recognizing the broader narrative—your heritage, your mentors, or the “DNA” of your organization—you cultivate a future-focused mindset grounded in shared purpose.

Extra Resources

This snippet on long lasting relationships can transfer into workplace team cohesion rituals:

Research: Emory University’s “Do You Know?” Study
Book: The Secrets of Happy Families by Bruce Feiler
Article: “Storytelling That Moves People” by Robert McKee and Bronwyn Fryer, Harvard Business Review (June 2003)

Reflection

Try this short practice at the beginning of your next leadership session or midway through a strategy retreat. Notice whether it shifts the tone of discussions, promoting openness and camaraderie. Encourage participants to bring artifacts or photos in future sessions and share how their heritage influences their leadership style.