SAAGA: the five elements of a success story

In an earlier post we talked about the ABC model that presented the three layers of organisational storytelling.

These three layers are always active and always need attention. For a more detailed view of its ingredients, let me introduce SAAGA, the five elements that make up a success story.

• Substantial. Are you explicit enough about the importance of your work? If you can't convince the world that your work is important, it is merely a hobby, not a mission.
• Articulated. Do you present a clear view of what problems you are solving? And how exactly? What is your method? How many products and services do you have? For whom?
• Authentic. Do you and your team really believe what you are saying? And do you have enough space for doubt and disagreement without the team falling apart?
• Grounded. Can you prove your success? What is the evidence you show to convince your own team and the outside world of your progress?
• Attractive. Is your story told in such a way that outsiders feel invited to join your movement? Is the story told in a form that matches the needs of the groups you are working for and with?

As an acronym, SAAGA fits neatly into the ABC model.

The SAAGA questions are a good way to diagnose the strengths and weaknesses of your current organisational story. If you rank these five elements, which one feels like the weakest link? That is the element you should be working on next. And if you do this diagnosis in a team, do you all more or less agree on the order? Or is there strong disagreement about a specific element? Internal disagreement is also a good indicator of where you can improve your story.