How To Quickly Gain Insights Into What People Remember About Your Story

How To Quickly Gain Insights Into What People Remember About Your Story

One of the biggest challenges with creating a story is — you are too close to it. You lived each of the experiences, so it’s hard for you to know which aspects will resonate with others.

Here’s a quick tip to help you gain insight into which parts of your story resonate with others…

Share your story with a friend, then have your friend tell your story back to you.

When another person retells your story, it gives you all the information you need to determine which parts are most memorable.

To gain the most benefit from this exercise, be sure you record the conversation.

Get The Most Our Of Hearing Your Own Story

To gain the most benefit from the other person’s interpretation of your story, listen for the following:

  • Specific details about the characters. Which physical characteristics were remembered? Which emotions stuck with the other person?
  • Specific details about the circumstances. Does the other person remember the time, date and other descriptions of the location of the story?
  • Did your friend grasp the main point of the story?
  • If there was a part(s) of the story you thought was important, but your friend didn’t repeat back to you, explore why it didn’t resonate.

The biggest challenge to telling our own stories is we can’t effectively determine which parts are most relevant and resonate with others because we’re too emotionally tied to the entire narrative.

Do this exercise with at least five people. They’ll tell you which specific parts of the story most resonate and are most memorable. This will enable you to create the best possible and most meaningful stories.

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Kimberlee. Vollbrecht

The Pipeline Plumber | Rescue Plans for Stale Leads, Stalled Deals & 1-time Sales | CRM & Email Marketing Evangelist | Let's Put the "Fun" Back in Funnels

2 年

Michael Davis that’s a brilliant tip - and easy to implement! Thanks for sharing.

Karyn Buxman, Neurohumorist, Speaker Hall of Fame

The Leading Expert in Brain-based Strategic Humor to achieve true success, lasting significance & genuine happiness.

2 年

What an insightful idea Michael Davis! I'm in total agreement—we are too close to our stories to be objective. Thanks for this awesome idea!

David Horning

I help leaders "think like comedians" to communicate, collaborate, and innovate with their teams to build standout cultures. | Keynotes, Workshops, Comedy Shows, Disruptions

2 年

What an AWESOME tip. I do a similar exercise in my stand-up training where I'll have each person share a pet peeve, and then their partner will share THEIR perspective and experience of the pet peeve to further expand the first person's understanding of it. Then recording the retelling of the story? Brilliant stuff, Michael. (I'm known to discreetly record a conversational riff so I don't forget what's causing all of that laughter and I can write it into a bit later. Sorry, not sorry.)

Bill Stainton, CSP, CPAE

Transformative Innovation, Creativity, and Breakthrough Thinking Programs | In-Person and Virtual Keynotes | Team Innovation Labs | Team Consulting & Mentoring ?? Book Your Free Innovation Accelerator Call Below ??

2 年

I completely agree with your premise, Michael Davis: we are too close to our own stories to make the best judgment about what's important and what's not. But I never thought of this solution, which is brilliant!

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