Storytelling Made Simple
Every wonder why you remember a story with details and names more than a simple phone number? Telling a story is important at home and especially at work. Here are 3 simple ways to improve your storytelling skills and communication.
Connecting on a Human Level
As humans we are wired to connect with mutual experiences and stories! This is how we relate to people, understand concepts, and meet on common ground when challenged, with stories. So, if it’s in our DNA, why do we remember a story our best friend tells us, but we can’t remember a simple 7-digit phone number or even a birthday?
Our brain, research has shown, mimics the storyteller and actually “relives” the story in our mind. We remember details due to the engagement with the storyteller and our visualization of the words spoken. The more vivid the details, the more our mind is thinking and reliving that story for us.
Three Story Types
There are three types of stories we easily connect with using our own human experiences:
1. Continuity stories are where things don’t change, such as our values and other humanistic traits we all share.
2. Novelty stories are looking at the uniqueness of a “future world” or something that is just outside of the realm of possibility.
3. Transition stories are journeys of learning and how people or topics have changed or overcome obstacles.
Remembering these types of stories will help you improve your skills and more easily relate an event using your storytelling abilities.
Storytelling with Improv Mindset
So, if storytelling is the way to go, how can I improve my skills? Practice it! Practice the skills of improv to hone your ability to relate an interesting topic, to engage your audience, and be remembered as a great storyteller. People love to listen to stories so be that person colleagues turn to at work.
The term is referred to as “Improv Mindset,” which was actually tested during the pandemic. Globally, we all had a great deal of change very quickly and pivoted to solutions for greater success in the aftermath. The same is true for an improv mindset. Developing traits where you take risks, tell stories, and gain feedback to make those stories meaningful for your own growth. Start practicing now in the new year to hone those skills.
Finally, you need to be actively listening to be able to tell your story effectively. Taking in ques from your audience to improve every chance available, will enable you to easily build upon your skills.
By practicing your storytelling abilities and using an improv mindset you will improve your communication. You will more easily connect with people at work and in life for a happy 2024!
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