Tip 15: Explore Different Perspectives

I often meet people who say they have no stories to tell. If you believe that, you're not paying attention. There's always a story. Always. Are they always easy to find? No. Will others always find them interesting? Sadly, no. But the story is there.

I recommend using what I call the Perspective Circle. It's an exercise that guides you through viewing events through different lenses to gain a different perspective.

Seeing events through different perspectives is a helpful storytelling strategy. Exploring those perspectives in personal storytelling enriches the narrative by fostering a deeper understanding and empathy toward the characters and situations involved. It allows the storyteller to present a multifaceted view of events, challenging the audience to consider various viewpoints and complexities of human experiences.

This approach often reveals underlying themes and truths that might be overlooked in a singular perspective, promoting critical thinking and emotional depth in the audience. It also enhances the relatability of the story, as different audience members might connect with different perspectives. Finally, incorporating multiple viewpoints can lead to a more nuanced and realistic portrayal of events, moving beyond stereotypes and simplistic interpretations to present a more holistic and authentic narrative.

Here's an example using one of my personal events:

Lens One: What happened?

At the first conference I spoke at after my book StoryTraining was released, I was put in a huge ballroom that ultimately nearly filled up with attendees. I refused to speak from the stage because there were tables on the stage in the way, and I wanted to be down near the people. Afterward, I received several complaints in reviews and in person that people were disappointed because they couldn't see me. After that experience, I always take the stage if there is one to avoid negative feedback.

This passage could become a story about accepting feedback and adapting your style to meet the audience's needs.

Lens Two: How did I feel when it happened?

I mean, I sort of wanted to be "near the people," but truthfully, I didn't take the stage because I was scared. It was only my second conference, so I was an inexperienced speaker and hadn't been on a stage by myself since I played a flute solo at Pershing High School's spring concert 31 years prior.

My reticence to be on the stage alone was exacerbated by being in such a large room. I felt unworthy and proactively embarrassed because I was convinced that only three people would show up. I didn't know the rationale behind how rooms were selected, so to me, it seemed like they had confidence that I could fill that room. How dare they! Not only that, but how dare all those people who actually filled the room believe I had something to say! Are you kidding me?

So, after I learned about the negative responses (because you only focus on the negative responses, of course), I was hurt. I felt like I let myself down, the people who trusted me with that big room down, and most of all, the participants who chose my session over so many others.

This passage could become a story about how fear can distort one's view of reality, often leading to poor decision-making.

Lens Three: How did others experience it?

It was shocking to learn that people cared about actually seeing me. I would later realize that it was not that they necessarily wanted to see me. They just, for some reason, didn't want to hear a presentation delivered by a disembodied voice at the front of the room when there was literally a stage right there. I mean, I guess.

I've learned through the years that the people who come to your session are on your side. They are rooting for you. Yes, they want a good session because chose it for a reason (and paid to be there), but they also want you to do well for you! So, I think while many were frustrated because of the experience I gave them, some wanted to see me take that stage and own it. They wanted to see me enjoy myself. Tell stories. Laugh. They wanted to share this experience with me, but I made that difficult to do because they could not see me.

This passage could become a story about how speaking to an audience creates an experience that they want to enjoy with you.

You can see how, by using the Perspective Circle, one hour of your life could be used as the basis of many stories. You can download the Perspective Circle from the Storytelling Resources page on my website.

As a bonus, below is a video of me using the Perspective Circle for a different story.

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