HERE'S ONE POWERFUL WAY TO CAPTURE ATTENTION
The other night I curled up on my favorite couch, in my favorite room, with my favorite glass of wine, a couple cats (okay, many cats haha) and a magazine I had been wanting to read – Rotary International, April 2023. For context, it might be helpful to know that I recently became a Rotarian – meaning I joined a global membership-based organization (with weekly local club meetings) that places service over self. A morning at Rotary is like a morning at church for me – I leave with restored feelings of hope, abundance and a greater connection to humanity.
Anyhow, back to my reading … it didn’t take long before I landed on an article that made me reach for my new leather-bound journal and pen – both of which a dear friend customized for me for my birthday. I was inspired to take notes about what I’d just read and how I wanted to apply it to my work.
The article that drew me in is called “The Value of Storytelling in Professional Communication” by Megan Preston Meyer. The author leads by saying, “For thousands of years, stories were the primary means of conveying information, and our brains have evolved to respond to them.”
Business, communications and psychology experts agree that storytelling is an effective way to influence, teach, inspire and connect with those around you. It’s been my personal experience that some stories can also entertain and engage (and who wouldn’t want that?) within the workday.
My encouragement today is to consider how and where storytelling fits into your business, life and very specifically your workplace wellness efforts. For years, I’ve seen the power of testimonials. One person’s story – often characterized by yearnings, setbacks, challenges, growth and perseverance – casts hope and shines a light on the fact that you (or we) are never alone in whatever is being faced. In other words, people will say or think, “If they can do it, maybe I can do it, too” – no matter what “it” may be.
Social worker, researcher and super-storyteller Brené Brown has said, “Stories are data with a soul.” I love the idea that we can share information alongside real life experiences, emotion and authenticity. The concerning misconception is that feelings, especially within the workplace and workday, are to be avoided. Brené’s research has confirmed the exact opposite. The ability to manage and face uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure are the driving characteristics of vulnerability … and vulnerably demonstrates strength and courage, not weakness. It’s my firm belief that by sharing authentically (not to be confused with over-sharing, disclosing or breaking confidentiality) and taking some risks, it’ll help other people feel safe to do the same.
Tip: See Brene’s storytelling & vulnerability in action here.
If you’ve made this far in reading this blog, I’m wondering if you noticed that it began with a story? Did that pull you in or make you curious about where we were headed and what you might learn? The great thing about stories is that there’s often something for everyone. Stories give many opportunities for people to extract or remember what struck them the most. With this blog as an example, maybe you enjoyed learning about my relaxation routine, Rotary, storytelling, Brené Brown or vulnerability. It’s neat to think that one story will make a different mark on each listener.
My hope is that storytelling makes its way into your organization’s videos, internal communications, meetings, employee spotlights and much, much more. For more information on storytelling, the neuroscience behind it and other best practices, I'd recommend visiting Harvard Business Review or Harvard Business Publishing. Oh, and after you finish reading this, would you mind sharing a story back? I’d love to hear from you!
Author: Katy Tombaugh