Stories are omnipresent, storytellers are not.
The growing storytelling fad is very concerning to me personally. I see so many LinkedIn connections saying storyteller as their work title. A lot of companies selling the art of storytelling as a workshop to potential corporates/clients. I don’t know the details of what they do, but whatever they may do, I am sure they cannot make a mango become a banana by using the logic that both the fruits are yellow in color!
I say again, stories are omnipresent, storytellers are not.
We all may be natural actors in stories that happen in our life, but that doesn’t mean we can narrate those stories well. There is a difference, a big one, in being part of a story, in recognizing a story v/s telling a story.
So, imagine that in these workshops you are being told how to make your self-introduction better, how to use a story to make a lasting impact in a presentation, how to instill pride and motivation in your team members by using stories. But in reality, you are a simple guy, who comes and does his work, talks only work related matters, never mixes personal life into professional work- how would your audience feel when while introducing yourself to a new person, you use a story, a personal one, whereas in routine work, you are as closed a person as there could be!?
It will not work. They will know it’s made up. It will not do you any good.
Storytelling is an art.
Yes, it can be learnt, like all arts. But just because a child is born to a cricketer, he cannot be considered a natural cricketing talent, similarly, just because you are around stories all the time, doesn’t mean you can tell them to make a statement.
Here are a few things which you should consider before you join the storytelling fad.
Know the Why: Like for everything else in your life, know Why you are doing what you are doing. Why should you tell a story to your audience? Why do they need to hear that particular story? I tell stories to children, but I am not a storyteller. I am a story educator. I use the medium of stories to teach children life and language skills- to talk about positive attitude, to broaden their thinking horizon, to help them get creative with their thinking etc. Stories is just used as an engaging/binding tool in that attempt to positively impact young minds.
Why should you use stories? Get convinced first, if only you are convinced, you would be able to convince your audience of why the story needed to be told.
Know the How: Now that you are convinced of the reason to tell that story, you should know how to tell it. Good stories don’t only have the text, they have the drama, the emotions, the mood, the context. Everything plays a role in making your story a hit. A lot of books and YouTube videos are now available that teach you this how.
How is completely dependent on who your audience is. For me, since kids are my audience, I use a lot of props, and drama in my story enactment. That keeps them hooked. Animations, presentations, whiteboards, flip-charts etc. are all tools available to you in your workplace to give life to your story. Or if you are a master storyteller, then your body is enough! Hands, using the available space, movement of eyes, facial expressions, voice modulations- they are all the best tools any storyteller can ever have.
Know the What: Don’t tell a story because it’s the new fad. Don’t tell a story because you attended a workshop which said you should. Don’t tell a story because you are expected to. Tell a story because it helps you put across your point. If your point is to have a good time with friends on a Friday night over drinks, and you start sharing your most embarrassing moments, then its fine. But if your point is talking about innovative thinking, then you shouldn’t give a Steve Jobs’ story. It is everyone’s most favorite innovation story and hence has been over-used. Also, if you want your audience to think new and innovatively, then why share stories of things that have happened in the past? Help them with stories that make them re-think the future. Something that hasn’t been done before, that’s the idea, right? So, instead of always using a story to make a point, you can use a story and then do stuff around the story that helps your audience think and act the way you want them to. With kids, we tell a story and then we move to activities, games, worksheets etc, something that helps them take the heard story to the next level of action. Whats the point of hearing a good story if you don’t know what to do with it?
And while we are on this topic, here’s also why you shouldn’t join the storytelling fad:
- If you don’t know what you want. Half-baked stories are the worst. In fact, to every story in the world, there is a counter story available. To every story that gives motivation, there’s a story which can be used to say why you shouldn’t try. To every person who says Pandavas were epitome of family values and honour, there are those who talk about why they kept quiet during Draupadi cheer-haran. To every story that hails Sachin as the best cricketer in the history, there’s a story which questions his selfish game-play. You get the point, right? Don’t get into it, unless you have a good grip on your Why.
- Because you want to inspire people. Inspiration is very personal. I can get inspired from my maid who leaves her sick children at home to come and earn her daily wage. You may need to hear about Narendra Modi. We can’t use the same story as a common brush to paint a large landscape. It has to be very specific and directed. Personal stories of “I did this” work best as inspiration. Hearing from the horse’s mouth will make other horses gallop faster!
Instead, join this wonderful storytelling fad, which is very useful and important, if:
- You know how to use it as a medium to achieve something. You want your kids to know about various civilizations, start with a story of how a girl sold mud pots to earn a living because those days, iron or a stronger metal wasn’t known to them. You want your team to achieve the impossible? Show them the why of achieving that impossible task- why is it needed to be achieved and picture a story of how life would be, once that is achieved. You want your seniors to agree to your project plan? If your hypothesis is based on historical data, then by all means use a story that builds the connection – they were in this situation, they did this and got success, hence we should also try. But if it’s a never done before idea, don’t use past references- use a story which gives them the idea of what if this succeeds.
- You genuinely believe in power of storytelling. If used well, the medium of stories can help your audience think and act in a manner you want them to. But for that, you as a storyteller should believe in the power of stories.
Photo by michael podger on Unsplash
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