Story Telling and Public Narrative DEI Lens: From a DEI perspective, the way to facilitate this module would be how to understand “the personal” and connecting that with “the organizational.” Much of storytelling and personal narrative is the lens through which we view the world, how that helps us to make sense of our environment, and how that view of the environment compels us to take action.

How To Tell a Good Story NOTE: if you haven’t already done a CHECK IN to start off the day or this session, make sure that you provide an opportunity to for each participant to speak in the first 10 minutes. An easy way to do this is to ask each person to share a phrase about how they are doing today. This should be “bookended” with a similar activity at the end of the session or day as a CHECK OUT.

People are Hardwired for Stories “Even if you have reams of evidence on your side, remember: numbers numb, jargon jars, and nobody ever marched on Washington because of a pie chart. If you want to connect with your audience, tell them a story.” A great quote from Andy Goodman, that simply just highlights the point that often, the way to connect with someone, is through storytelling. Numbers and stats are great, but people more moved by stories, and especially stories they can relate to. Facilitation prompts: - use details/specifics so that listener/reader can identify with the story - you want to get people immersed in the story so you need enough story to do that - story often has a realization or transformation that happens (an A Ha for the teller and then for the listener) Source: Goodman, Andy. Storytelling as Best Practice. 2003.

What do Stories Do? Tell Who You Are Tell Who We Are Teach a Lesson Share moments that made you who you are or that clarified your values Tell Who You Are Share values of a group; what makes up the DNA of your group; where do you we have points of convergence Tell Who We Are Share how you learned something through success or failure, mastered a capability or overcame a barrier Teach a Lesson Create dissatisfaction with present, share mistakes, make a case for change, and create a vision for future Motivate Change Allow audience to see a problem through a different lens by changing the emotional climate Change Frame This slide shows the five main things stories do. Often, in a presentation, you may use stories for 1 or more of these purposes. The thing to think about is what will your audience connect with, how, and why? Source: The Ariel Group, 2000

Then something happens A Common Structure It’s normal life Then something happens Creating a conflict That Gets Resolved Then, reflection FOR EXAMPLE Once a upon a time, there was a little girl who loved to visit her grandmother... then one day the big bad wolf... and the woodsman killed the wolf... And that is why...

Integrating a Story Into a Presentation or Conversation 1. Start with the Subject Matter 2. Then Transition into Story 3. Tell the full Story 4. Connect the Story to Subject Matter 5. And, Return to Subject Matter Subject Matter Content example: “I would like to speak with you today about new marketing strategy for our product” Transition into Story example: “let me share with you a story to illustrate a vision of how we can work together ..” Tell the Story: set the stage, describe the conflict, mention resolution “Its 1982. I am out on the soccer field with my son. He turns to me and says ..” Connect the Story to Subject Matter: “What my son said reminded me so powerfully that there is always a fresh, new way to look at any challenging situation. Similarly, are we willing to shift our marketing strategy in a whole new direction, to take a risk the way my son did? I certainly am ..” Return to Subject Matter example: “In moving forward with this new vision, there are three main obstacles we will face …” Source: The Ariel Group, 2000

Step 1: Start with the Subject Matter When telling a story, start with the topic on hand so that your audience knows what you will be discussing and how the story is grounded. “I would like to speak with you today about new marketing strategy for our product …” Source: The Ariel Group, 2000

Step 2: Transition into the Story As you being your story, consider using a vertical take-off by starting in the middle of the story. Even so, ensure that you have a clear beginning, middle and end. “Let me share with you a story to illustrate a vision of how we can work together …” Source: The Ariel Group, 2000

Step 3: Tell the Full Story When telling the full story … Set the Stage What is the scene? What are the vital contextual details? Describe the Conflict What went wrong? Where is the drama? What makes the story interesting? Come to the Resolution How was the conflict solved? “It is a crisp fall Saturday morning in 1982. I am out on the soccer field with my son. Suddenly he turns to me and says ...” Source: The Ariel Group, 2000

Step 4: Connect Story to Subject Matter Make sure your audience knows why you told this story and how it relates to your topic. What is the emotional hook? “What my son said reminded me so powerfully that there is always a fresh, new way to look at any challenging situation. Similarly, are we willing to shift our marketing strategy in a whole new direction, to take a risk the way my son did? I certainly am ...” Source: The Ariel Group, 2000

Step 5: Return to Subject Matter At the end of the story, come back to your subject matter. Make your point. Reflect. Is the meaning of the story clear? “In moving forward with this new vision, there are three main points I would like to make …” Source: The Ariel Group, 2000

From Stories to Action with Public Narrative

Stories Can Move Us to Act Action Barriers Action Catalysts Inertia Urgency Fear Hope Apathy Anger Self-Doubt You Can Make A Difference Solidarity Isolation Source: M. Ganz. (2008). What is public narrative? New England Grassroots Environment Fund. Retrieved from http://chutzpahportfolio.yolasite.com/resources/WhatIsPublicNarrative08.pdf

Using Stories to Get to Action Telling a story moves us to act action… Self, Us, Now Taking Action What draws you to this work? What draws the other person to this work? What are your shared interests? What is urgent and important to act on? Why act now? What will you commit to doing differently? What would you ask the other person to commit to? Purpose is to understand us as individuals, us as a group, and how that understanding can guide our collective action.

Building a Foundation with Stories of Self, Us, and Now Today we will begin with this as a foundation for effective communication. Shifting our culture requires shifting our habits. Self Us “Leadership requires engaging others in purposeful action by mobilizing feelings that can facilitate it to challenge feelings that inhibit it. This can produce an emotional dissonance, a tension that may only be resolved through action. Organizers call this agitation” Land here Tie to mission: Storytelling and culture are foundational pieces of the work you do and we are coming here to build and strengthen this internally. Collective action! Mobilize! Internal communications is tightly intertwined with culture Now Source: M. Ganz. (2008). What is public narrative? New England Grassroots Environment Fund. Retrieved from http://chutzpahportfolio.yolasite.com/resources/WhatIsPublicNarrative08.pdf

Story of Self Guiding Questions: Story of Self: Values Self Now Us Story of Self Guiding Questions: Who are you and what draws you to this work? What was a challenge you faced? What was at risk for you in considering that challenge? What the critical choice that you made at that time? Workshop to build story of self and ask. Activity Directions: Take 5 minutes now. Jot down answers to these questions and craft your Story of Self

Find Out Their Story of Self Activity Directions: Sit or stand face to face, or ear to ear with your partner Ask questions to learn about their Story of Self and listen actively Each Partner will have 10 mins to share (time yourselves) Then return to the meeting Self Now Us Keep in Mind: What draws him/her to this work? Where do they come from? What challenge have they faced? What was a significant choice they made? What compels them today?

Story of Us: Shared Interests Self Now Us Story of Us Guiding Questions: What are the shared values and interests that you see across you and your partner? Activity Directions: Take 5 minutes now. Jot down where you believe you have shared interests. Use examples that you heard in your partner’s story or that you have observed. Craft your Story of Us: How would you tell the story of how you see your values and interests intersecting?

Activity Directions: Share Your Story of Us Sit or stand face to face, or ear to ear with your partner Share your Story of Us with your partner Each Partner will have 10 mins to share (time yourselves) Then return to the meeting Self Now Us Keep in Mind: What are the shared values and interests that you see across you and your partner? Use examples that you heard in your partner’s story or that you have observed.

Story of Now: Taking Action Together Self Now Us Story of Now Guiding Questions: What must you act on now? Why now? What is an actionable commitment we can make to each other? Activity Directions: Take 5 minutes now. Jot down your response to the Story of Now questions above. Craft your story of Now: What could you do together or for each other?

Putting it All Together: Self, Us, Now Activity Directions: Sit or stand face to face, or ear to ear with your partner Share your story of Self-Us-Now and practice suggesting an actionable commitment Each Partner will have 10 mins to share (time yourselves) Then return to the meeting Self Now Us Keep in Mind: What draws you to this work? What are the shared values and interests that you see between you? What actionable commitment would you propose and ask for?

Back Together Whole Group What connections did you make with your partner? What commitment did you make? What questions do you still have? Unity This is the beginning of a long path. You will need to do this across levels. This is the work you must do. What points resonated with you? When did you feel heard or understood? How did you feel about the ask? What are you committing to do? Public Narrative Examples: Barack Obama’s 2004 DNC Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWynt87PaJ0 Paola Peacock’s TedxABQ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jRQ9UVtKig