Why stories are so important?
Stories serve as bridges, connecting us on a deeper level. They facilitate the expression of emotions, feelings, and knowledge about our surroundings. We are naturally talented at telling stories.
But, why it’s difficult to tell stories then?
We tend to focus a lot on technology causing us to overlook its ability to empower people in a way that is simple and relatable. It enables individuals to recognize that the success of others can also be attainable for them. Crafting compelling stories, much like any skill, relies on consistent practice and mastering specific elements. Each attempt at storytelling presents an opportunity for improvement, refining the craft step by step.
Key ingredients of a good story (Five Ps – Microsoft Story Telling Techniques):
People
- Highlight the human impact rather than fixating solely on technology.
- The potency of a compelling story lies in placing people at the core.
- By portraying relatable experiences, we enable others to empathize and step into the shoes of those in the story.
- This approach captures attention effectively.
Place
- Incorporating place as a character enhances the memorability of stories.
- A location can function as a character within a narrative, adding depth and richness.
- It’s essential to consider the setting thoughtfully.
- Pay attention to how the location influences the story’s characters and events, making it a vital aspect of your storytelling.
- Consider the following questions:
- Where is it located?
- Which details about your location help your audience identify with the story?
- Which details about your location are incidental or distract from the story?
- Being mindful of these aspects ensures that the setting not only becomes a backdrop but an integral part of the story, engaging the audience more profoundly.
Pictures
- Scientific research indicates that people remember images more vividly than written or spoken words.
- Visuals serve as potent tools, illustrating a message powerfully and succinctly.
- Through compelling visuals, a single message can be conveyed swiftly, clearly, and with remarkable resonance.
Personal
- Sharing personal narratives enhances the memorability of your message and creates a deep connection with your audience.
- Embracing vulnerability in storytelling is essential. Seek stories that resonate with both you and your audience. They don’t necessarily have to be directly personal to you, but they should evoke a sense of connection and authenticity.
- It’s crucial not to manipulate emotions artificially. Instead, the goal is to establish a genuine, personal connection with your audience.
- Good to ask yourselves the following questions to be more self-aware:
- Why do you feel compelled to share this story?
- How does this story reflect your own experiences?
- Why do you care about the individuals involved in the story?
Platform
- Tailor your storytelling approach to align with the specific platform and craft messages that deeply connect with the intended audience.
- Effective stories are platform-specific.
- Be deliberate on the story’s presentation and its context.
- Embrace creativity and explore various avenues.
- Opportunities to share stories can emerge unexpectedly from diverse places. Stay open to these unanticipated avenues.
Important things to remember:
- Products & Processes: Products and processes should be used as a supporting cast while telling the stories. The key focus should remain with the 5 Ps mentioned above.
- Setbacks & Success: Great stories have some setbacks, learnings, and transformations that produce outcomes, and success. We all can relate to this, so having these in your story can easily connect with the audience.
- Audience: Recognizing your audience is the key. Be prepared for unexpected insights. Conduct thorough research on the following topics:
- What matters to your audience?
- Why should they be interested?
- Define your objective: Inspire, educate, entertain, or influence.
- Be CuriousEffective storytelling extends beyond personal narratives. Discovering impactful stories relies on asking pertinent questions. Practice active listening and remain adaptable in your approach.
- Emotional Connect
Compelling stories can trigger emotions and establish a human connection. The magic lies in the emotional resonance; don’t shy away from embracing vulnerability.
Additional Read – Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is a concept introduced by Simon Sinek in his popular TEDx Talk and subsequent book, “Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action.” It’s a simple but powerful framework that explains how great leaders and organizations communicate and inspire action.
The Golden Circle consists of three layers:
- Why: Effectively expressing your ‘Why’ is a powerful method to connect with others, define your unique value, and motivate action. According to Simon’s theory, communicating ‘Why’ engages the listener’s brain, influencing their behavior significantly.
- How: ‘How’ aspects could encompass the strengths or values that set you apart from others. According to Simon, ‘How’ messaging can also appeal to the limbic brain, which influences behavior and emotions significantly. However, he suggests that individuals or organizations should focus on enhancing how they express their ‘Why’, alongside their ‘How’, for more impactful communication.
- What: This is the easiest of all. One can easily explain ‘What’ they do or “What” problem they will solve. Sinek contends that ‘What’ messaging only appeals to the neocortex, the rational part of our brain. He argues that this area is less influential in decision-making compared to the limbic brain, which ‘Why’ and ‘How’ engage more effectively. Successful individuals and organizations emphasize why they do what they do, rather than just focusing on what they do.
This concept has been widely adopted in the business world as a framework for effective leadership, marketing, communication, and storytelling strategies.
I would like to recommend watching the famous TEDx Talks presentation by Simon Sinek:
