Get Your Desired R.E.S.U.L.T. from Your Stories

Last week, I had the fun of presenting to some of the most inspiring advocates in the D.C. area (and beyond) at the Beekeeper Group’s annual Summit. I shared my not-yet-patented approach to storytelling, which is something I planned to write about in detail here in the weeks and months ahead.?

I designed the R.E.S.U.L.T. approach for storytellers with a mission - for people who, as we say at p.h. balanced films, know that “Stories Power Change and Stories Change Power.” When used properly, the narrative arc (more on that soon, too) can literally change internal brain chemistry and bridge external social divides. Happily, advocates across the country increasingly recognize the potential of stories. To be effective, advocates must also appreciate the distinction between storytelling for entertainment and storytelling for advocacy.?

The R.E.S.U.L.T. approach outlines the elements a story needs in order to support advocacy efforts to change (or defend) a law, regulation, or policy.?

When a few attendees noted that they’d like to start using my approach as a checklist in their communications beyond storytelling, I, knowing the value of checklists, resisted the urge to sing like Robin Williams or dance like Will Smith and simply stuck with, “Your wish is my command.”?

In its most abbreviated version, the R.E.S.U.L.T. approach asks:

RELATABLE: Does your audience already relate to your issue??Can they personally understand its importance? If not, your story is even more critical to illustrating the problem and ensuring they make the solution a priority.

EMOTION: How do you want your audience to feel during and after your story - and about the issue itself??

SOURCE: Will your audience happily listen to - and trust - your source? (Spoiler alert: my entry on this element will address when your CEO or Executive Director is not the best source for your message.)

UPLIFTING: Have you left any space for your audience to feel even an inkling of hope for a good outcome - or change for the better? (If not, expect their response to be “Why bother?”)

LANGUAGE: The fact your language should be accessible to your audience is a given. Beyond that, ask: Does the language you are using resonate with your audience and their values??

TRANSFORMATION: This element is the crux of both story and advocacy. A story, by definition, is a journey that includes at least one change - a transformation - along the way. Put another way, a story has a beginning, middle, and an end, and somewhere along the way, something happens.

If nothing happens in your "story," expect this response:

The happening might be an external experience (e.g., surviving a hurricane, a life-threatening illness, or simply a crazy shared Lyft ride). More often than not, the change is also tied to an internal transformation: did your main character (your hero or shero) learn something new? Did they change a fundamental belief? Did they accomplish something they never thought they could? Alternatively, the story may be that an obstacle denied them the opportunity to do, learn, or accomplish something important.

In advocacy, the cause of the transformation should tie directly to your advocacy ask.?

Can you say something along the lines of: “The reason Hero is alive today is because of XYZ. That’s why, Senator Smith, we are asking you to support S.1234 to make XYZ available nationwide.”?

Bottom line: If the transformation in your story doesn’t illustrate your advocacy ask, you have the wrong story.?

That’s the nuts and bolts of the R.E.S.U.L.T. approach, friends. I’ll build out each element in individual posts over the months ahead.

If you have questions in the meantime, give me a shout in the comments or by direct message.??

Stay tuned!