The Power of Great Storytelling Samina Anwar

How storytelling can inspire and engage people at work Build context Convey ideas Build connections People Purpose

Storytelling can inspire us to trust in the journey, wisdom and passions of our leaders and help us to accept change.  It can inspire our teams and people to align to a shared vision.

In this workshop we will explore: Why storytelling is so important Your current storytelling style Connecting the dots-Converting your knowledge and experience into relatable stories  How to enhance your story toolbox How storytelling can help us to share our purpose and vision

Who am I? Samina Anwar Mother & Wife Teacher/ Trainer Coach Artist Photographer Philosopher Visionary

Let’s look at why storytelling is so important: Human connections Engage you audience Build trust Empathy from your audience and demonstrate your own empathy Inspire Introduce or encourage change Help people to engage with your ideas Help people to see the bigger picture Storytelling provides narrative. In a digital world the power of storytelling is used to convey ideas through words and images.

The best speakers, writers, leaders, teachers, trainers, coaches and parents are great storytellers TED talks- simple narrative to influence, persuade and share ideas. Community, Social Enterprise and Charities-emotive imagery which is just as powerful as the words, possibly more so. Storytelling takes us right back to our primal instinct of sharing; when our ancestors once shared their collective experiences around a fire. It was key to their survival and development. As children we learn from our parents with books and verbal storytelling. Tales which spark our imagination, develop our moral compass, and develop our human connections. When people tell us stories or we see an image or watch a movie it evokes our emotions in a powerful way. This emotional response can move people to action.

Stories in a snapshot!

Activity: Your favourite story Think about your favourite story, What makes it so compelling to you? (It can be a person’s experience/ a story you’ve heard/ a book/ movie) Share this story with the group

Reflection activity: My current Storytelling style 1. Think about a story you have used to illustrate a point, inspire or share an experience to relate to someone. 2. Use the table to categorise the story. 3. Which of these types of stories would you like to include in your toolbox to persuade, inspire, relate to people?

Inspirational stories Stories I’d like to include in my ‘toolbox’ Types of stories   Purpose story Communicates the bigger picture and conveys a big idea Example/proof story How you or others overcame a problem and had a successful outcome What if… Or imagine…story  Introduces a change or an idea. It is a story of transformation to overcome resistance. Conveys why you care and why it matters. Cautionary stories Looks at the consequences of not taking required action. Teaching stories A story which is used to build audience knowledge through relating to real-life context Inspirational stories An individual’s or group’ actions which led to positive (usually altruistic) change. The aim is to build on or replicate that success. Everyday stories How situations/ problems were resolved to move over obstacles and encourage progression/ momentum. Stories I’d like to include in my ‘toolbox’ How these will help me

The most important feature of any story A ‘theme’ that binds the narrative together. Everyone has a key purpose (a theme in your life, whether that is finding love, friendship, acceptance, sustainability, a better future for your children, social change, self-actualisation) which is central to you, once you know and recognise it, it is very empowering. When you can acknowledge what drives you, you can own it and build on it. What drives you? Have a think. Do you know it (yet)?-(Group reflects)

Pillars of happiness and storytelling Emily Esfahani Smith TED 2017 (https://www.ted.com/talks/emily_esfahani_smith_there_s_more_to_life_than_being_happy?language=en )There’s more to life than being happy Belonging-relationships where you are valued for who you are intrinsically, not for what you believe. Purpose-Less about what you want and more about what you give, how we contribute and feel needed. Gives you something to live for, and drive you forward. Transcendence-Those rare moments when you are lifted beyond the hustle and bustle of daily life Storytelling-The story you tell yourself about yourself Creating a narrative about the events of your life brings clarity Helps you to understand how you became you We are authors of our own stories You can edit, interpret and re-tell your story even as you are constrained by the facts

Storytelling strategies: Something that makes people care. Instinctively we want to care about something. Especially in a world where we are surrounded by ‘white noise’ of things we constantly have to filter out because we don’t care about it. A strong story promises something (usually an amazing outcome) It allows you to deduce the information. It is specific enough to communicate the theme clearly but vague enough to enable you to look for answers and find solutions.

Storytelling strategies: It’s not instructional, it’s directional A good story follows a similar concept, it takes you on a journey towards a promise of something, on the way there are several possible outcomes. Famous quote: Carl Rogers (Psychologist): “3.The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination” Instead of a happily ever after we have a “to be continued”…where are we now? and where are we going? Why?

Review of our objectives Much like this workshop, you are able to reflect on your own stories, there’s no right way to tell your stories, but you now have a variety of styles to choose from. Recap: You are now aware of Why storytelling is so important Your current storytelling style Connecting the dots-Converting your knowledge and experience into relatable stories  How to enhance your story toolbox How storytelling can help us to share our purpose and vision

Thank you and Happy storytelling 