Whether you’re speaking to customers, your employees or the local Rotary Club, odds are you’ve got stories to tell. Not tall tales, untrue and uninteresting. But stories that can inspire, influence, motivate and even turn negative situations around.
Stories are often more memorable and more effective than just facts or directives. What are some of the things we remember most from our own childhood? STORIES. How or why you started your business is far more interesting to hear about when you tell it as a story, rather than simply reciting your resume. Visitors to a rural small business are often interested in the whole rural experience, and what it’s like to create and run a small business in rural America. Stories are the perfect way to share this information and entertain at the same time.
In her book ‘Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins’, Annette Simmons describes six different type stories that work in the workplace: stories that tell who you are, why your business exists, that reinforce a learning point, inspire hope, share values or state your understanding of another’s perspective (like your customer’s perspective).
In Business Story Telling – Using Stories To Inspire, the Mindtools website shares several tips from Ms. Simmons that a business owner should keep in mind when telling stories:
* Be authentic – The best storytellers talk from their hearts, so don’t try to fake an emotion that you don’t feel. Your listeners will probably see through this, and your story will crash and burn.
* Pay attention to your audience – Stories that are too long are generally boring. Tell the story well, but don’t go on forever.
* Practice – Try to practice before you tell the story. Even if you tell it to yourself just once in front of a mirror or video camera, this can help you when you’re in front of your real audience.
* Create an experience – Remember that when you tell a story, you’re creating an experience for your listeners. Don’t just use sound (words), but the other senses as well. Show your listeners the picture you’re painting, don’t just tell them.
What are some stories you can tell about your own business?
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The problem with effective storytelling is that it takes effort – more effort than a lot of people are willing to make. But as you suggest, the effort is definitely worthwhile.
I might also point out a favorite blog on the subject — http://www.madetostick.com/blog/ — and some of the free resources they offer. I’d also highly recommend it their book.
‘Made To Stick’ looks great, Mike. You’ve recommended several books on your blog the last couple months that I’ve had to buy – this looks like another!