It’s April in Texas. My Pennsylvania constitution is shocked by the heat. I can’t believe what I see - men in jeans, long-sleeved shirts, and cowboy hats. And boots. And they’re not sweating. It’s amazing what you see in the parking lot at a Wal-Mart.
I’m en route to a storytelling workshop. I get to facilitate the workshop and I’m over-the-moon excited.
You see, this is my dream job.
I’m at a university and know that I’ll get to work with deans, department heads, and development officers. I’m in a room with really smart people who are invested in what I have to teach them - they just put their jobs on hold for the day.
The workshop is about using stories from your life that relate to stuff going on at work. It’s based on the idea that great leaders are great storytellers.
We talk about why stories work so well. And we discuss values and authenticity. And inspiration.
And we get to the part of the workshop where you have to tell a story to a partner.
Nerves.
“Can I leave now? I think I’m supposed to get a colonoscopy today.”
“Really? Do we have to do this?”
Uh. Yes.
And so it goes. They jot down a story then practice a few times with a buddy. And then they get to tell the story to everyone in the room.
More nerves. Some of them feel kinda pukey. But they all do it.
And there’s lots of smiles, laughs, and emotion-y faces in the audience. And sighs of relief.
I see transformations. And so do they. There’s a big difference between what they thought they couldn’t do at the beginning of the day and what they actually did at the end of the day.
They’re amazed that simple stories from their lives help them connect with colleagues when it comes to issues on the job.
Who knew a story about baking cookies with grandma would directly relate to a challenge a team is facing with a new software?
Who knew a story about getting fired would relate to upcoming budget cuts?
But they do.
And these personal stories do more than relate to job stuff. They help the folks in the room relate to each other.
Telling the story does two things: It communicates important ideas related to work while communicating things about yourself.
A story does double duty.
So you may be asking, “How does storytelling at work make your work life happier?”
Because when you know how to prep and tell a story, you’ve just added a new tool in your leadership tool belt. You gained confidence where you previously felt wonky. You’re speaking from a different place. The people you’re talking to know you get it.
You’re happier when you start to master something new.
And this: When you hear a story that is unexpected - how great is that!? Who knew the woman sitting in the office down the hall went through that? You had no idea you were so similar. Her story was so surprising, you feel open to some of her ideas. You actually see her in a new way.
And then you hear another story and it changes your opinion. You’d made assumptions about why this coworker acted a certain way, and now it all makes sense. You had no idea he looked at the challenge that way. And now you see it too. You may not agree wholeheartedly with his ideas but at least now you know where he’s coming from.
It happens every time - colleagues share stories about things you never knew.
And best of all, these stories directly relate to things happening at work.
And your story may be just what someone needs to hear to feeling inspired, challenged, or motivated.
Think about it. Stories and relatability.
How often do you want advice from someone who has no clue what you’re dealing with? How about never.
How about hearing a story from someone who’s had the same anxiety or situation? Yes, please.
The same thing happens at the divorce support group I started a few years ago. We tell stories about what happened and how we overcame something. I’d get booted from the room if I’d never had to deal with a cheating spouse, losing a house, having no job, and worries about kids. I tell stories that relate to what others in the group are feeling. And the group members tell stories to help each other.
And I bet you have lots of good stories too.
You have many to tell, just by looking at the life you’ve lived. Stories have universal themes, and you can tap into those themes and move people into action at work.
Really. Here’s how.
Have you ever had difficulty on the job?
Do you have any hard-to-manage personal relationships?
Have you ever had a hard time making a decision?
Any of these things from your life can be turned into a story that works at work. Yes, that time you dropped out of college and got arrested for unpaid speeding tickets can be just the thing you need to tell us about.
Because we’re gonna hear about what you learned and how you got yourself out of that mess. I mean, haven’t we all created a mess at one time or another?
Don’t we all have lives that are relatable in one way or another?
So tell a story at work. See if you can match the emotion you felt inside that story with something your colleagues are feeling at work now.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes.
This is fantastic!