How to Be Better at Storytelling Than the Writers of Game of Thrones

If you’re a GoT fan, you might be disappointed or even outraged about the turning point in Daenerys Targaryen’s story. One of the show’s favorite characters went from savior and freer of slaves to killer of thousands of innocents in the penultimate episode of the final season. The show’s writers made her into the "mad queen" and are being bashed on social media for it. Why? Because it doesn’t make sense to the audience. It’s not consistent with her character to them. It doesn’t build on the character fans got to know and love over eight seasons. For many of them, it is poor character building and storytelling.

The art of storytelling is not just for screenwriters. We tell stories nearly every day in our casual conversations. As a job seeker or someone looking to build your professional reputation, your ability to tell meaningful and concise stories when writing your resume, networking, interviewing, or building your brand online is critical. Storytelling and consistent character building can greatly contribute to how others perceive you.

Why do you need storytelling? Because we feel more connected to a product or a brand if we understand the story behind it, as research proves. (Read more in this article on story understanding and recall.)

Here is a storytelling technique I often practice with my clients. It shows a potential employer, collaborator, or networking contact who you are, how you approach challenges, and makes you more memorable.

Leave a Positive Impression with This Storytelling Technique

1.   You – introduce the character 

2.   Need – give character a desire

3.   Go – send them on a journey outside their comfort zone

4.   Search – character adapts to journey

5.   Find – character gets what they want, or they don’t get what they want

6.   Take – pay a heavy price for that

7.   Return – go back to comfort zone, or make a new one

8.   Change – not the same person you were at the start of the story

As you probably noticed right away, Dany’s story can be applied to almost 100% to this approach. Her journey with the goal to make the world a better place while overcoming many obstacles, her growth, the loss she experiences along the way, and finally the change at the end of her story. 

Now, the last two points is where the writers of GoT disappointed their audience. Your change needs to align with your story, what you have learned, and how it helped you grow.

Although some argue that there were signs for Daenerys’ madness and desire for revenge, you might want to aim for clarity. The story development should make sense to your audience. And choose a story with a positive outcome and a happy ending… 

When have you used storytelling to build a relationship or grow professionally?