Purposeful storytelling is the ultimate tool for helping people understand an idea, concept, or vision. Stories are game changers, because they engage a listener’s emotions. Typically, emotion, not logic, causes people to act. Stories resonate within us, which is precisely why people are far more likely to remember information embedded within a story than information that was presented to them in facts or figures. If you tell a story with authentic emotion, people will respond. The story should have had an emotional impact on you as a person for you to want to share it with others. That emotion could be joy, sadness, grief, struggle, amazement, or many others. The best stories are the ones that make us laugh and/or tear up at the same time. Look for opportunities to speak with others about your experiences or the experiences of others that might have a positive impact on that person or people. Stories are powerful tools of change….use them.
