The most common mistakes made when storytelling
Summary
Telling stories has become an integral part of our communication. Storytelling has been used for centuries to share knowledge, spread culture and values, connecting people through emotions and experiences.
But what is storytelling really
and how can we use its potential in everyday life and in… job interviews ? Read on!
What is storytelling?
Storytelling is the art of indonesia phone number example telling a story that engages the emotions, imagination, and experiences of the listener. It involves conveying information through a narrative that is intended to evoke a specific response or convey a specific message.
Studies have shown that when we listen to a story, our brains not only activate the areas responsible for processing language , but also those areas that normally activate when we experience the events described ourselves. In other words, our brains respond to the story as if we had experienced it ourselves.
For example, when we listen to a story about a mountain expedition, the areas of the brain associated with visualizing the landscape or emotions make us feel as if we were participants in the expedition ourselves. This is why storytelling can be such an effective tool for conveying information and building emotional engagement.
You use storytelling every day
Every day, in almost every aspect of our lives, we use storytelling. We tell stories about our experiences, plans, dreams and challenges. Even in the simplest conversations with loved ones, we use narrative to express our feelings and convey information in a more engaging and emotional way.
Here the question arises: why is this happening? Why are stories whose events form a logical whole the ones that make our brains work at full speed , engaging our senses and emotions?
The answer is simple: that's how we are created and how we think. We are "stuck" in narratives all day long, whether it's thinking about grocery shopping, work, or our loved ones. We create stories in our heads for every action and conversation. And that's storytelling.
How to create a storytelling narrative?
Creating an effective storytelling narrative requires a variety of techniques and strategies that will make your story both interesting and engaging. There are a few key elements:
Define the purpose and message of the story
Before you begin telling your story, it’s important to be clear about your purpose and its message. Think about what you want to achieve with your story—do you want to inspire someone or convince them? Knowing your purpose will help you stay consistent and focused on the most important elements of your story.
Establish key points
In storytelling, it is important to capture the main points of the story. These are what give it shape and emotion. Think about the aspects that are most intriguing and relevant to the message. The more accurately you choose these points, the more you will draw your listeners into your story.
Use emotions
Emotions are an essential part of effective storytelling – so try to evoke different emotions in your audience, such as joy, sadness, fear or surprise, to make your story more dynamic and therefore convincing.
Keep the story consistent and fluid
Maintain consistency and fluidity in your story by avoiding sudden jumps or changes in subject. Make sure your story is easy for your audience to follow and understand by carefully planning the transitions between each element.
Watch your pace and tone
Variations in tone and pace of narration can help you keep your listener interested. Keep your story dynamic, with moments of tension and release to keep attention throughout.
Thomas Bill
Linguist, storyteller, communication expert and strategist, entrepreneur, lecturer at the University of Warsaw.
Professionally deals with designing communication languages for brands, teams and people using storytelling.
In the world of storytelling, Tomek Bill , a recognized expert in this field , suggests how storytelling relates to more specific industries:
In some industries, specifics and numbers still rule. Then you can go a level higher and use data-storytelling, i.e. stories about facts, numbers and data, but this may be a topic for a separate article. Our professionalism should then switch on the mode of adapting the narrative to the recipients and focus on what can really be of value to a potential employer. After all, we would not like to be considered "storytellers" or "pharmazonians" when big money, people's safety or other elements based on functions with great social responsibility are at stake.
Inspiration to build history
In Ffion Lindsay’s “The Seven Pillars of Storytelling” we can read about methods and ways to present the structure of our story by adding the aforementioned pillars to it, e.g.:
Monomyth (hero's journey) : the hero sets out on a difficult journey, overcomes challenges, and returns with a positive outcome. This helps explain the path to the wisdom you want to share, takes the audience on a journey, and shows the rewards of risk.
Sliding lines : uses graphical time mapping to contrast current and desired states. This inspires action and creates hope for change.
In medias res : starts the story right in the middle of the action , immediately grabbing the audience's attention and keeping them in suspense. This focuses attention on a key moment in the story.
Get inspired by the book “The Seven Pillars of Storytelling” by Ffion Lindsay and create truly engaging and interesting narratives.