Some people don’t like to hear the same stories over and over. You know the type of story I’m referencing: the ones that always come out after 4 beers to groans, laughs, and quiet smirks. The stories could be a decade old but they still come out as if they are fresh. These stories are worth bringing up regularly for a couple of reasons.
These stories reinforce the common bonds between the team. They show that there have been shared events that have built the trust that is there. No matter whether things currently are good or bad, they give people something to fall back on. They form part of a shared experience that we can appreciate.
Another reason for these is that they give an opportunity for entry into the shared community. Being invited to listen in means that some part of the shared trust is being shared with you. Stories like these are not shared with just anyone. There is more than just words to the story that you are being invited to. Hearing stories of years before means that you should expect to start being involved in the next round of earned stories.
Repeating them over and over is worthwhile because the experiences relayed within them will change with time and context. There are morals about the participants in these stories. There are little ways for achieving victory. There is an opportunity for renewed self-reflection on how to avoid the situation in the future or how to handle it better if it does come back around.
Don’t underestimate the power of these stories.