The Paradox of Communication and Storytelling

This week, I began my journey with Misk Entrepreneurship Launchpad program, which empowers entrepreneurs to test their ideas and ensure their product or service fulfills a market need. In one of the sessions titled : "Pitch & Presentation Skills" provided by Brinc we learned how to craft compelling stories for investors, clients, and employees.

This experience inspired me to explore what I call the paradox of communication. How Effective communication often involves taking what seems obvious and flipping it on its head.

Here are the top five paradoxes of communication and storytelling:

1) The More You Know, The Less Effective You Can Be:

This is known as the curse of knowledge. When telling your story, simplify it. Ask yourself, "If someone has never heard about this, would they still be able to follow my narrative?"

My favorite example here is John F. Kennedy. Instead of going on and on about space, he said: "We choose to go to the moon." This is a narrative that everyone can follow.

2) Confidence is Important, But Overconfidence Can Hinder You

Many famous individuals, from stage performers to presidents, admit to feeling nervous every time they face an audience. This fear is natural; it's your body's way of signaling that this is an important task. Overconfidence goes against this natural response. It's important to stay humble and aware.

Famed Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli, despite all his fame, still gets stage fright. In his own words he says: "Stage fright is my worst problem. A voice is very intimate. It's something of your own. So there's always this fear because you feel naked. There's a fear of not reaching up to expectations."

3) Clarity Comes from Focus

As an angel investor, I frequently encounter pitch decks or data rooms overflowing with information. Imagine being thrown into a maze and asked to navigate it without a map. This information overload, whether intentional or not, can be overwhelming and leave me feeling lost. Simplifying your story cuts through the clutter, allowing it to be communicated clearly and effectively.

Here's why brevity is key: Mark Twain famously quipped, "I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead."

4) While Short-Form Content is Trending, Longer Stories Can Be More Impactful

In the past, producing and disseminating stories was expensive. From engraving on stone in the caveman era to printing on costly paper with the advent of the printing press, and later, getting approval to circulate through media outlets, storytelling was a resource-intensive endeavor.

Now, in the age of the Internet, everyone is a storyteller. With platforms like TikTok, which boasts over 1 billion users, stories can be told in 10 seconds or less. A few months ago, I was asked to create an educational storytelling series on TikTok. I found it challenging to convey meaningful education in such a short format. The content often felt like noise, failing to resonate deeply with viewers.

In a world where everyone is a 10-second storyteller, consider taking the Joe Rogan approach: tell a well-prepared, longer-form story. This approach not only respects your audience's intelligence but also allows for a deeper, more impactful connection.

5) Humans Are Wired to Tell a Story About Themselves; Resist the Temptation

Many people start their pitch by highlighting what their company can do. However, it's more effective to join the conversation already happening in your client's mind. For example, Tesla doesn’t just talk about revolutionizing car manufacturing. Instead, they focus on how their cars offer luxury, cutting-edge technology, and environmental benefits to the user.

These are the five paradoxes I've identified. Which of these resonate with you? What else would you add to a list of ten paradoxes of communication?

If you're interested in learning business storytelling, get in touch!