Military aviators who have survived near-fatal incidents often share their experiences in informal settings, such as break rooms and social gatherings. A recent study explores how these storytelling sessions not only help individuals process trauma but also cultivate deeper meaning and connection in their professional lives. This research, titled “Stories from the Danger Zone: Conversational Storytelling and the Meaning of Work After a Close Brush with Death,” was conducted by David Long, J. Edward Zollinger Term Associate Professor of Business at William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business, along with colleagues from University of Notre Dame, Arizona State University, and George Mason University.
The study analyzed interviews with 58 military aviators who encountered life-threatening situations due to crashes, ejections, or mechanical failures, often outside of combat. Participants shared their stories, revealing that the act of storytelling significantly influenced how they understood and emotionally processed their experiences.
Storytelling as a Source of Connection and Healing
The researchers were surprised to discover that storytelling provided more than just a means of coping with trauma. Many participants reported finding meaning and connection through the retelling of their experiences. “We expected to hear about trauma and disruption, and we did. But what surprised us was how many participants found meaning in the retelling — how their stories became a source of connection, self-worth, even healing,” said Long.
The key finding from the study indicates that conversational storytelling serves a dual purpose: it helps individuals make sense of their experiences, termed “meaning as understanding,” and it fosters a sense of fulfillment, referred to as “meaning as fulfillment.” Through repeated storytelling, aviators experienced renewed significance, feeling that their narratives could benefit others, while also fostering a sense of belonging and esteem.
The Role of Narrative Style and Audience Engagement
Long emphasized the importance of narrative style in the storytelling process. “We found that it wasn’t only the content of the story that mattered — it was how it was told. Humor, poetic license, and the audience’s reactions played a huge role in how meaning was created,” he noted. Even stories that contained painful elements, such as the loss of a fellow crew member or personal mistakes, were used to foster connection and insight.
The researchers developed a theoretical model to illustrate how dramatic tension, such as whether lives were lost or mistakes were made, influenced storytelling styles and outcomes. This model sheds light on the complexities involved in how aviators narrate their experiences and the varying impacts these narratives have on themselves and their audiences.
Perhaps most notably, the study reveals that storytelling can evolve into a personal mission for some individuals. Sharing their experiences transitioned into a calling for many, aimed at educating others, preserving memories, or advocating for safety.
This research addresses a significant gap in organizational psychology and workplace studies. Previous studies have largely focused on storytelling as a tool for organizational learning or personal reflection. In contrast, Long and his colleagues highlight the potential of storytelling to generate authentic meaning following existential threats.
“We hope this work encourages leaders to make more space for storytelling at work — especially the messy, vulnerable kind,” Long concluded. “Because it turns out, stories don’t just help us survive. They help us thrive.”
The findings underscore the profound impact that storytelling can have on individuals who have faced extraordinary challenges, offering a pathway to healing and connection in the wake of adversity.