he stories that we tell are a powerful way of communicating who we are to our listeners. Through narratives, we can emphasise or call attention to aspects of our 'selves'. At work, our identity is bound by our hierarchical position, so although workplace anecdotes are typically intended to entertain or amuse others, they may also be used to exaggerate or undermine this position. We have analysed workplace data to explore what counts as a workplace anecdote, and how they are used in the workplace to construct a professional image.
Workplace anecdotes are a special type of narrative. They are brief digressions from core-business that serve social purposes, such as humanising the narrator and/or downplaying positions of authority.
e.g. Opening of weekly team meeting in a large commercial organisation
