Most of us can probably remember listening to a parent or teacher tell a story with a morality message designed to affect our behavior by conveying a sense of values, wisdom, or beliefs.

While some have suggested that “storytelling” is a lost art, I contend it's not, particularly in an era of increased use of social media. Storytelling is more prevalent than ever today as people engage in blogs, online discussion groups, industry conferences, and other interactive forums, where personal experience is at the center of the discussion. There is even a National Storytelling Association.

In the world of corporate compliance, storytelling ...