Storytelling

Telling a good story?

Even if you’re not interested in how a book is created, you’ll find something relevant here...

I’m often told I’m a good storyteller. Not by the children who read my picture books, but by my work colleagues and clients. ?Storytelling is everywhere: In music, dance, the advertisements you read on the tube, the presentations you give at work and even the emails you write. ?

It’s important too. The average person’s attention span is between 8-10 seconds, so being able to ‘hook’ your audience at the start of whatever story you are telling is a crucial skill. ?

So, what makes a good story? Here’s what I think:?

1. An authentic voice.

“That person really knows what they are talking about.” “Sounds like this has come from experience.” “They have credibility when they speak.” “I can relate to this character.” ?

This is all likely feedback from a story (presentation, email) being told with an authentic voice. The person telling the story is credible, knowledgeable, and genuine. It makes a huge difference in the ability for your story to connect with your audience. If your client doesn’t believe that you have a genuine interest in what you are telling them, are they going to really listen? If your character doesn’t have an authentic voice, your story will fall flat. ?

(Picture above: my upcoming book "My Family is So Scottish" is based on many of my own experiences, including my own wedding)

This is why “own voices” initiatives in publishing are increasingly important. Stories about a disabled character, or one brought up in a refugee camp are far more authentic if written by people who have these experiences themselves. ?

Trying to get an important point across? Who is the best person is in your team to tell the story? (It might not be you)?

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2. A unique or different perspective.

Everyone knows the story of the Three Little Pigs, but what if it were told from the wolf’s perspective... or even, from the big bad wolf’s granddaughter? Now we have a very different story. One of prejudice, and the power of reputation perhaps? ?

We forget how fast people go into autopilot when a story is similar to something they already know. Our brains are very clever at conserving energy and will often dial down concentration when it thinks it can predict the outcome. ?

(Picture above: my first book "My Brother is a Vampire" is told by the older brother, who is convincing the reader to believe their perspective)

It’s amazing how a different perspective can change a conversation in a workshop, or the context of a presentation you’re planning. In my role as an Experience Director at EY wavespace, I have seen first-hand how focusing in on a different perspective such as the end customer, can accelerate ideas, fuel richer discussions and create momentum with a team. ?

Always presenting with the same structure? How can you tell this story from a different angle??

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3. Involves the reader.

One of my favourite stories is ‘Journey’ by Aaron Becker, which might seem a strange choice for a writer because it has no words. Why? From the first page the reader is part of telling the story. We see the girl in her room, how she is bored... until she finds a magic crayon and draws a door... it is immersive and powerful to be part of the conversation, part of the storytelling. ?

Too often we come into meetings with all the answers. We get stuck into a binary relationship of ‘tell and receive’. Most of the time we know where we are starting and where we want to get to, so why not involve your audience in the journey part. Say you’re presenting findings to a group of people. How can you create a discussion throughout your narrative? Can you ask people to bring their different perspectives to you before you present the content??

When presenting information: How might you increase the engagement of your readers before the presentation? How can you involve them in the journey??

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Fun!

When we enjoy an experience, we improve our concentration, memory retention and motivation. (read more about how in this article) You can make a story enjoyable through comedy, rhyme, or an impactful delivery. As my books are made for reading aloud, it’s important to me that they are fun and easy to read (often many times) which is why they are in rhyming couplets. I also love to work with the illustrator to bring out joyful scenes of the characters having fun, which makes the reader smile and reflect this in their voice. ?

Perhaps this is why we’ve seen a rise in gif usage in the workplace, because they lift the mood (and some are also mini stories themselves)?

(Picture above: my favourite scene from "My Family is so Scottish". Illustrator Karen MacAllister has packed it with fun and energy!"

Even a small addition of fun to your work can increase engagement. A couple of weeks ago I added “May the Fourth be with you” to my presentation and used a few Star Wars analogies throughout. The feedback I got on the content I delivered was far richer than usual. (It was 4th May)?

How might you be able to inject some fun into your meetings? Bonus if you can create a great analogy or hook to ensure your content is remembered.?

I'd love to hear from you about your storytelling experiences. Please comment and join the discussion...