“The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon.” — Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings
I’m realizing more and more how stories help you drive a point home.
It’s one thing to make a point. It’s another for your story to make the point for you.
If your ideas aren’t sticking, or you’re not getting buy in, maybe a compelling story is the answer.
6 Keys to Strategic Stories
You can use strategic stories as a catalyst for change, but you need a recipe for telling good strategic stories. Here is a recipe you can use to tell strategic stories:
- Make stories short (1 -2 minutes) so they can be retained
- Limit stories to no more than 2 or 3 characters, so it’s easy to follow
- Build your story around a singular message.
- Tell your story in the present tense so participants can relate
- Use powerful images to tie to a theme
- Repeat a phrase or word that is the essence of your message
The value of the stories is they help you engage people and they have a more powerful recall than slides, facts and figures.
You Might Also Like
Character Trumps Emotion Trumps Logic
The 10 Best Ways to Persuade
Leading and Influencing Mindful Change