Public administrators as storytellers: Nurturing narrative competence to enrich their professional identity

Abstract

There is growing interest in the potential of storytelling and narrative in public communication, engagement, and connection with stakeholders. Nurturing narrative competence and storytelling capacity in future public administrators will enable them to effectively utilize this essential skill in the practice of public administration. This paper discusses the relevance of storytelling and narrative in public administration, builds the metaphor of public administrator as storyteller, using professional identity theory and sensemaking as conceptual foundations, and offers ideas curated from the literature on how to build narrative competence and capacity. Theoretical, practical, and pedagogical implications for public administrator as storyteller are considered.

Keywords:

• Administrator
• communication
• narrative
• storytelling

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Aroon P. Manoharan

Dr. Aroon P. Manoharan is Associate Professor in the Department of Public Service and Healthcare Administration, Sawyer Business School at Suffolk University, Boston. His research interests include e-government, performance management, strategic planning, public communication, administrative capacity, and comparative public administration. He is the Executive Director of the National Center for Public Performance (NCPP), Boston.

Nandhini Rangarajan

Nandhini Rangarajan is associate professor of political science at Texas State University. Her research interests are in public management, and public affairs education. Her articles have appeared in prominent public affairs journals. Her co-authored book, A Playbook for Research Methods: Integrating Conceptual Frameworks and Project Management, helps graduate students manage the research process.