The stories metaphors tell: Metaphors as a tool to decipher tacit aspects in narratives

Metaphors are often unconscious and taken-for-granted parts of our daily life and common communication. This article deals with the explorative and descriptive aspects of metaphors used in organizational settings. I introduce a three-step metaphor analysis including several particular tools that focus on the specific metaphor meaning. Two case studies of East German managers' narratives will demonstrate how metaphors can help us better understand highly emotional contexts and complex situations within organizations.