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By: Bill Spreitzer
When was the
last time you heard or read a really good story that moved you to
shift your thinking and/or behavior?
What was it
about the story that deeply resonated with you?
Who was the
storyteller? Did he/she make a difference for you?
Think for a
moment of the impact on your life that some of the stories you have
heard over the years have had:
- Given
hope, inspired you to achieve greater heights
- Ignited
your passions, captured your imagination, curiosity and
creativity
- Drove
you past obstacles and challenges
- Got
you reconnected to your purpose or mission in life
- Deepened
relationships, helped to build trust in others
- Made
you laugh, forget about your troubles for a moment or two
- Put
life into perspective (personally and professionally)
As
a leader at work, home, and/or in your
community, one of the greatest gifts you can leverage to influence
others are the stories you share. Here are 3 types of stories
that I find to be the most common and impactful:
1.
"I understand and can relate." (Empathy and
Connection)
Sharing an
experience in your life that connects to what a person is going
through can be a sincere form of empathy that deepens trust in the
relationship. The key here is to convey your story when the timing
is right as you don't want to overshadow the person's experience nor
take away from being a generous listener in the moment. The
power of the "I understand and can relate" story is that it
lets the other person know that this too shall pass and that you are
there with them, not only physically and mentally, but emotionally
and spiritually.
2.
"You/we can do this!" (Inspiration and Focus)
These stories
tend to be the ones leaders in all walks of life use to rally the
"troops" when momentum is flagging, obstacles have popped
up, or the energy of the person/team is low.
Additionally, they can be told at the beginning of an ambitious
mission or project to focus the person/team on the bigger game - on
what's possible in the future. Tips to consider when sharing
"You/we can do this!" stories:
- Tell
them with passion, sincerity, strength and high energy.
These stories start and end with the heart - period!
- Feel
free to use the stories of others (friends, colleagues,
athletes, business leaders, politicians, etc.). Select the
story that best fits the situation and will have the biggest
impact on the person/team.
- Use
video clips which bring in images and sound that engages more of
the senses.
3. "Boy,
did I ever learn a valuable lesson." (Teaching and
Choices)
Leaders are
responsible for educating their organization - to deepen and leverage
the "collective genius" that comes from living life and all
of our experiences along the way. Wisdom is applied knowledge
and is meant to be shared. The important things to keep in mind
when telling these stories are that they come from your life, are
real, factual (no need to embellish for effect), that reveal a
vulnerability or a chink in your "armor", and finish
powerfully with the lesson that you learned which has led you to
making better choices in life.
Here are 4 keys
to powerful storytelling:
- Authentic - Be
genuine and speak from the heart. Give all of
yourself. Others can tell when we are being sincere or
faking it.
- Focused Out -
Stories are meant to serve others and to create a shift in order
to move us forward with purpose toward a desired outcome -
personally and professionally.
- Appropriate -
Always ask yourself, will this story offend or alienate
anyone? Is it well suited for the situation or audience?
- Experiential -
Tell the story with the intent to create an experience for the
listener that stirs him/her to change the conversation he/she is
having about an important situation at work or at home.
Know not only the facts of the story, but bring it alive with
metaphors, sounds, inflection of your voice, facial expressions
and gestures. Practice, practice, practice so that you
won't come across as scripted and you can focus on your
listener.
In closing, I
leave you with a quotation that nicely sums up this
article:
"Stories
have power. They delight, enchant, touch, teach, recall, inspire,
motivate, challenge. They help us understand. Want to make a point or
raise an issue? Tell a story."
- Janet Litherland (Author)
Copyright protected,
all rights reserved worldwide. ©2012 Bill
Spreitzer - Excellerate Solutions, Inc.
