How to be a master storyteller and stand out in your career?

In my last blog I wrote about public speaking as a key leadership skill. In this blog I will delve a bit deeper and explore the concept of storytelling and how you can be a master storyteller.

In this day and age of information overloading, information is flowing from every direction. How do you stand out? What will you do? What will you use to make your messaging communication distinct? If you have a corporate job, you may work hard to gain hard skills and improve your short-term skills, which will help you reach a certain level. But beyond that level, growth may stall. So, what will you do to grow in your career?

The answer to all this is the skill of storytelling. Storytelling is key. How can storytelling be done? What are the advantages and techniques of storytelling? Let's talk about all these things here in this article. 

The Power of Storytelling: Why Storytelling Works? 

First of all, we have to understand why storytelling works. Research shows that when storytelling happens—when you listen to a story or read a story—four key things happen in the brain:

1. Brainwave Synchronisation: Storytelling synchronises your brainwaves.
2. Cortisol Release: A hormone called cortisol is released, which heightens awareness.
3. Dopamine Release: Another hormone, dopamine, is released, giving a sense of pleasure, satisfaction, and awareness.
4. Oxytocin Release: The final hormone, oxytocin, is released, which urges you to take action.

These elements combine to make storytelling a powerful tool. As a leader, if you want your team to exhibit a certain action or behaviour, you can achieve this through storytelling. Gone are the days when jabs, tips, and data points were enough to get things done. In today’s world, telling a compelling story synchronises brainwaves and releases a cocktail of hormones that create awareness, help people understand what’s in it for them, and finally urge them to take action.

This is why storytelling works, and it’s why leaders worldwide are adopting it as a way to communicate, pass on messages, and grow in their careers.

How to Master Storytelling? 3 Important Frameworks 

There are many frameworks you can follow to use storytelling effectively. Here, I will talk about three specific frameworks.

1. The Hero’s Journey Framework

The first framework is the Hero’s Journey. This is a very simple framework where the main message becomes the hero, going through the hero’s journey.

• Ordinary State: First, you describe the ordinary state of things.
• Transformation: Then, you show how a transformation occurs through this character.
• Conclusion: Finally, you conclude with how the transformation is completed and what the outcome is.

For example, the movie Sultan illustrates the Hero’s Journey. In the movie, Salman Khan’s character starts as a normal individual, faces an event that leads him to wrestle, experiences both success and setbacks and ultimately emerges victorious. In business communication, you can use this framework by finding your key theme and making it undergo the Hero’s Journey.

2. The Pain Island and Pleasure Island Framework

The second framework is the Pain Island and Pleasure Island Framework. This simple framework is mostly used to communicate value propositions.

• Pain Island: When talking to clients or stakeholders, first address their pain points (Pain Island).
• Pleasure Island: Then, talk about how their future state will look once their problems are solved (Pleasure Island).
• Your Service: Position your service or product as the boat that will take them from Pain Island to Pleasure Island.

This framework is especially effective for coaches or mentors who want to articulate their value proposition. Martin Luther King’s speeches often utilised this framework, making it a powerful tool for communication.

3. The Situation, Complication, and Resolution Framework

The third framework is the Situation, Complication, and Resolution Framework. This is a simple yet effective structure for storytelling.

• Situation: Start by analysing the situation.
• Complication: Then, identify the complication.
• Resolution: Finally, present the resolution.

For example, you and a friend want to attend an event. You go out to find that your vehicle has a flat tyre (situation). The complication is that you don’t have a jack to change the tyre, and there’s no time to call someone to fix it. The resolution? Book an Uber and make it to the event on time. This flow helps organise information and tell a story in a compelling way.

Building the Storytelling Muscle

Now that you understand some storytelling techniques, how do you build this storytelling muscle? Here are a few tips:

1. Read a Lot: Don’t just read summaries; read full books. This will help you reflect on what’s written and improve your storytelling.
2. Be Observant: Pay attention to what you hear and see. Understanding and examining your surroundings will provide you with material to use in your storytelling.
3. Study Great Leaders: Read books, watch speeches, and listen to TED Talks by leaders you admire. Observe how they communicate their messages through storytelling.
4. Practice: There is no substitute for practice. The more you practice storytelling, the more natural it will become.

Conclusion

Storytelling is a vital skill that can be acquired with the right techniques, practice, and effort. Some people may be born storytellers, but anyone can become proficient with dedication and practice. Understand that storytelling is an important skill, practice it, and see the changes in your communication and career growth.