The Power of Storytelling: Why You Need to Start Using Stories at Work Now
Okay, so we all know a picture is worth a thousand words, but what if I told you that stories are the most valuable tool available when it comes to magnifying a memorable message? Not only do stories make a presentation more memorable, they make it more meaningful AND more motivational, as well. They build a bridge between you and the audience – connecting you with them and connecting them to your message.
Get ready to discover the power of storytelling and how you can use it to connect with your audience and inspire them to take action. I will also share a powerful (free) guide on how to tell the 6 stories every professional needs to deliver. So, if you want to learn how to connect with your audience and inspire them to new heights, keep reading!
Storytelling: The Most Powerful Tool in Your Communication Arsenal
As a professional, entrepreneur or coach, you know the importance of communication. You also know that sometimes it can be difficult to get your message across in a way that resonates with your audience. This is where storytelling comes in.
Speakers who tell stories are seen as more relatable, more credible and more trustworthy. Stories are also the easiest way to ensure your audience not only remembers you but also remembers what you said.
First, let’s talk about why you should use stories in your professional life:
Use stories to connect with your audience
Use stories to motivate your audience
Use stories to inspire your audience
Use stories to educate your audience
Use stories to entertain your audience
The best part about stories? They are literally happening all around you, all the time. Every event you experience and encounter can become a story. Imagine you’re sitting around a table with some friends, laughing and talking about your day. It’s effortless to start a sentence with, “You will not believe what happened to me today at the coffee shop…” OR “Guess what Liz in Accounting said today via email…” OR “I got the craziest text message this afternoon…” Communicating with stories is natural – but something happens when we step up to the front of a room with people staring straight at us - all of that natural ability just flies out the window.
I’ve talked about how to deal with nerves during public speaking on this blog before so I’ll leave that there for now, but when you’re struggling to consider how to use stories in your next presentation in the most effective and engaging way possible, keep reading…
How to Tell Stories That Motivate, Build Trust, and Connect with Your Audience
How can you use storytelling to connect with your audience and inspire them to take action?
Well, first, you have to tell one! Many of my clients think they are telling stories when, unfortunately, they aren’t. Stories have a clear structure. The best stories have a beginning, middle and end (just like this blog post). Stories have characters and settings and a plot. They point to something that happened in a specific moment in time. Stories can be re-lived with your audience when telling them. And, most importantly, stories have a point. If all you’re doing is telling what happened, you’re simply giving an account – not telling a story.
Consider this: “You will not believe what happened to me today at the coffee shop. I’m just standing there, waiting for my latte, and I hear a familiar voice. I look over the counter and, there, behind the counter, is Renee! Renee used to be in PR at my company! I’m like, what-the-fuuuuuu… we make eye contact and, at first, I’m super embarrassed and feel really awkward, like, am I supposed to say Hi? She smiled and waved and came over. Listen, this is crazy, but this girl really gave up 6 figures (and gave it up happily) to make coffee because she was so fed up with the toxic culture in our office. I mean, if your office culture is so awful it makes people trade in their cushy salary for $15-an-hour-plus-tips and some peace of mind, something must be really W-R-O-N-G. Am I right?”
This story works because it is interesting, thought-provoking, simple and explanatory. It has a clear beginning, middle, and end. Memorable. Meaningful. Interesting. If it was given at the beginning of a speech about the importance of talent retention or the dangers of a toxic work culture, it would not only make sense, it would help drive home the point.
Becoming a Charismatic, Relatable and Influential Leader with Storytelling
So, now that you know the power of storytelling, it's time to start using it in your professional life. I hope these tips will help you connect with your audience and inspire them to take action:
Don’t waste time trying to “find” a story. Many of my clients get stuck trying to figure out what story to tell when it's actually not that difficult. You can tell just about any story as long as it is relevant to your audience and resonates with them. It could be a personal story or an example from your work. Remember to keep it simple and relatable to your audience.
Use descriptive “language” to paint a picture for your audience. The more vivid the description, the more likely your audience will be able to connect with the story. Here’s a secret most professionals miss: it’s not just about words. Descriptive body language is paramount to telling an effective story. Many clients say “but wait, I’m a professional not an actor…I can’t act out a story.” Think about the last time you shared with a friend or colleague about something that happened at work or at home. Did you use your hands? Did you say something like, “let me show you how they walked up to me or let me show you how Bob came running down the hall because he was so excited”...and then you demonstrated it…? I bet you started pantomiming like crazy because humans use their bodies all the time in communication! It’s natural. And doing what comes naturally is critical in a professional setting – otherwise you risk coming across as stiff, boring, inauthentic, or as a talking head. (psssssst: No one likes a talking head).
Give your story a structure. Every story follows an arc. How to use this arc is one of many powerful tools I share in my workshops and 1:1 coaching. At the very least, make sure the story has a compelling beginning, middle, and end. This will help engage your audience and keep them hooked until the very end.
More importantly, make sure the story has a point. An easy way to do this is to share your key takeaway for the audience as an epiphany or “aha” moment. You must also be able to frame your story in a way that is relevant to the industry or topic. Once you learn how to do this, choosing a story to tell is easy because it's not about the story itself, it's about the big insight you want to share and how you choose to frame it.
Keep reading to get access to exactly how to nail this.
While stories are great for conversation in casual, social settings, storytelling for work settings comes with its own nuances. By following these tips, you can learn how to tell stories that will connect with your audience AND motivate them to take action.
Want to take the guesswork out of which story to tell and when? Ready to get better at telling stories quickly and on the spot? Then learn how to tell the six stories every professional needs to succeed at work along with the specific techniques you can use to make them more engaging and influential by checking out my free guide: The Six Stories Every Professional Needs to Know.
