Would you be shocked to know at times I’ve been embarrassed, elated, discouraged, and inspired?
Of course not.
And unless you live in a plastic bubble, you’ve also felt those things.
And I bet your life hasn’t always been a bed of roses. Your kid wrecked the car, you got fired, failed a test, or made bad decisions. You’ve probably also had days where everything went well - you got the job, met a great partner, or won $100.
What I’m saying is that although we’re told from a young age how unique we are - we really aren’t. Sure, we all have special talents, but the truth is, we experience many of the same trials, tribulations, and joys.
All these feelings and situations are not necessarily unique. And that’s good. In fact, it’s great.
These things we have in common help us relate to each other.
So, how does that relate to storytelling and leadership?
First, let me tell you about one of my favorite series, “Friday Night Lights.” The story revolves around high school football. If you know me, you know I don’t give a rat’s toot about football. Yet, I loved the series.
Why? Because it’s not really about football. It’s about family, friendships, overcoming challenges, and hard work.
It’s about being human. Nobody in the show is perfect. Their characters are vulnerable and authentic. Which means they’re relatable.
Think of your favorite movies and books. You connect to the characters and the issues they face because you see yourself in those situations too. Or you have the same dreams. Or the same worries.
If you didn’t identify with the characters in some way, you’d probably stop watching or reading. The same goes for storytelling in a business setting.
In my workshops for leaders, we use personal stories for a reason. We use them because they contain nuggets of universal truth. We talk about challenges everyone can understand.
Imagine you’ll meet a new executive at your next work meeting and they’ll introduce themself using a story. Imagine their story is about how they got to this position because they graduated at the top of their class from an ivy league school. And how they’re living the dream with their wonderful spouse and prize-winning doberman.
Okay. That’s nice.
Or, imagine their story is about how they had to work full-time while attending this ivy league school where they felt isolated because they didn’t have time to socialize. And they met their wonderful spouse after being dumped by the love of their life. And their dog is a three-legged mutt.
Which story do you prefer?
Sure, the first story may be inspirational.
But the second story is relatable. That’s a person I want to get to know. That’s a person who probably understands me and my life, even if I didn’t experience an ivy league school. (I do have a three-legged doberman, worked during college, and had horrific breakups.)
That’s not to say every story you tell at work needs to contain loads of personal information. But it needs to contain an emotion and situation we can relate to.
Let’s say you have a new project on the horizon. Or, your team is feeling burned-out. Or there’s a big change coming.
A story is the perfect communicator.
They offer a way to pass along company culture and values. A leader sharing a personal story about overcoming a challenge can inspire resilience and problem-solving within the team.
Is your team discouraged? Tell a story about a time you felt discouraged.
Are your employees worried about an overhaul to the system? Tell a story about a time you felt anxious.
In short, the next time you need to motivate and influence colleagues, tell a quick story that humanizes you by revealing a challenge and feeling we can relate to. And end the story with how you overcame this challenge and what you learned.
And….watch Friday Night Lights. It’s really good.
Thank you for reading! If you liked this article, please share it and let me know what you think in the comments.
Dawn Ziegerer is the owner of The Great Story Workshop. She helps leaders and entrepreneurs tell stories with strategic messages that connect and motivate colleagues.
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