“You’re only as successful as the story people are going to step into.” Geralyn White Dreyfous, Salt Lake City Film Center (as quoted in True to Yourself by Mark Albion)
Storytelling is not a difficult topic to understand … because, we all tell stories. As a Leader, I simply want you to be more conscious of why you should tell and when to tell. To do that, I want to offer what I’m calling 3 Basic Principles for using Story as a Leader:
The Story is told for others – It’s not told for you, it’s told for the hearer (the listener). When we make things about us – all those things about “Look at me, I’m great” – we will miss the point of it all. The spirit of a story first makes itself known to us by its small, quiet way of speaking and saying, “Tell me.” Simply trust this spirit and tell.
The Story is told in search of a truth – There’s something in the story for the listener to glean. Whether you, as the teller, even know what that is exactly is not the point. For some reason, you know the particular story has been impressed upon you and may have some meaning for your listener.
The Story is told because you care for the listener – Don’t fail to realize that your trust to tell the story is wrapped in the fact that you care. And again, the spirit of story will not let you be. Gayle Ross said, “Once you are telling your stories, other stories you didn’t intend to tell begin to surface. And you know you have to tell them too.”
Your stories tell people who you really are, what you really care about, and why you care. The why is felt in their own, unique interpretation of the story. You tell it not to be painted from your pallet, but from theirs.
In telling your stories, the stories impact you! Go, and Tell.
