As human beings, we have always loved stories. Starting from the ancient times when humans would gather around fire in the evening to hear stories from storytellers, hearing stories never got lost. In India from being put to sleep by our grand mothers with stories to now eagerly consuming stories/reels on Instagram, Social media and even during living room conversations listening to stories remains popular. (Author)
The Master Storytelling Mindset creates the natural spontaneous ability to convert narratives into storytelling based on the target audience you are expecting to impact. Storytelling in the communications business becomes serious perception creation. You flash your key messages with simplicity and transforming your target audience from a good to know scenario to a wow, need to know scenario.
Developing into this mindset needs you to be on the tip of your toes especially about key differentiators of the brand, product and service you are propagating. Your story needs to get your audience, consumer to connect and respond, therefore the biggest ability you need to trigger is relevance. It’s actually all about converting key messages into elevator pitches that really engage with your audience.
How? Here are some steps you need to take.
Capacity audit of your natural ability to story-tell
While all human beings are born with the abilities to learn, change and face situations and challenges, each of us are wired differently. This comes from the various influences in our life from our childhood. It constructs our basic nature- the way we are. (Author)
I have repeatedly stated this fact in all my previous articles, its best to attempt a mindset transition if you are at least 40-50% nature wise, what you are wanting to become. Therefore the honest capacity audit of yourself. Best done with a trusted buddy, could well be a family member too. Are you imaginative, social, front bencher? Do people listen to you when you talk to them? What’s your current level of empathy? How persuasive are you?
Once you pass this test, be clear about your improvement areas and start working on them. Then soon you will be ready for your trial run!
Storytelling is an ancient persuasion tool
Master storytellers treat storytelling as a tool and use it to increase influence whether that be on stage, in the boardroom, at the bar or at baby’s bedtime. Storytelling is perhaps, the most persuasive communication device available to you as a speaker. (Author- Anthony Sanni)
There is no point coding your storytelling messages and sending them out if the recipient does not want to listen and further more decode them. You must customise your storytelling to your audience as far as possible. Remember, in history, go back as many years but every general was a master-storyteller, what they said as well as how they said it, motivated their armies/forces at every level and made them rush forward with victory as a taken consequence. Even our college professors who left a dent in our memories for time immemorial, were those, who just did not come to teach a lesson. They created a relevant and interesting story for us to consume. The learning happened automatically!
Effective storytelling comes with surround sound
Master effective storytelling by jumping straight into the action, showing emotions rather than just stating them, and using dialogue to transport the listener. Practice recalling story-worthy moments daily by writing down the date and the single most interesting, funny, or challenging thing that happened to you that day. (Author- Phillipe Humm)
Your voice pitch & modulation, positive body language, eye connect with your audience if you are standing on stage and telling your story. Even if you are just sitting on a desk and talking to the audience who are sitting around, you need to make your small scale stage just come alive. If you are telling them your story in writing, use dynamic wordsmithing to make your written words come alive like images.
Great stories happen to those who can tell them
Era Glass
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