Senior editor of HBR Bronwyn Fryer visited Robert McKee, the world’s best-known and most respected screenwriting lecturer, at his home in Los Angeles. McKee’s students have written, directed, and produced hundreds of hit films, including Forrest Gump, Erin Brockovich, The Color Purple, Gandhi, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Sleepless in Seattle, Toy Story, and Nixon.
McKee believes that executives can engage listeners on a whole new level if they toss their PowerPoint slides and learn to tell good stories instead.
While storytelling comes easy to many, it is a daunting task to put that skill to use in your daily work life.
6 tips to keep in mind to boost storytelling skills
Minto Pyramid Principle
The Minto Pyramid Principle is a communication technique, developed by Barabara Minto, that involves structuring your story or presentation with a clear and logical flow.
Start with the main point or key takeaway (the “pyramid’s peak”) and support it with structured and coherent arguments or examples (the “pyramid’s base”). This ensures that your story/pitch/presentation is focused, concise, and easy to follow.
Example: Let’s say you’re presenting a project proposal. Using the Minto Pyramid Principle, you would begin by stating the project’s main objective or desired outcome. Then, you would provide supporting arguments, such as market research, financial projections, and competitive analysis, to build a strong case for the proposal.
By structuring your story in this way, you highlight the key points and make it easier for your audience to understand and remember your message.
Be audience-specific
Tailor your stories to your specific audience. Consider their backgrounds, interests, and knowledge levels when crafting your narratives. Adapt the language, examples, and references to resonate with their experiences and perspectives. This personalization increases engagement and connection with your audience.
Example: If you’re delivering a sales pitch to a group of healthcare professionals, you can incorporate stories that highlight how your product or service has positively impacted other healthcare organizations. By sharing relevant success stories and illustrating the specific benefits for their industry, you capture their attention and demonstrate your understanding of their needs.
Contextualize your story
Contextualizing your story means grounding it in the specific workplace situation or challenges at hand. Relate your narrative to current projects, organizational goals, or industry trends to make it relevant and applicable. This helps your audience see the direct connection between your story and their work environment.
Example: If you’re leading a team meeting to discuss a recent setback, you can contextualize your story by sharing a personal experience where you faced a similar challenge and overcame it. By relating your story to the current situation, you provide valuable insights, inspire resilience, and show that setbacks are a natural part of the workplace journey.
Humanise your story
Infuse your story with human elements to create an emotional connection with your audience. Incorporate personal experiences, anecdotes, or testimonials that highlight the impact of the story on individuals. Humanizing your story adds authenticity and relatability, making it more compelling and memorable.
Example: Suppose you’re sharing a story about a customer success experience. Instead of focusing solely on the business aspects, introduce the customer’s journey, their pain points, and the positive outcomes they achieved with your product or service. Include quotes or anecdotes from the customer to showcase their emotions and personal perspective. By humanizing your story, you make it more relatable and emotionally resonant for your audience.
Make it action-oriented
An action-oriented story encourages your audience to take specific actions or adopt certain behaviours. Use stories to illustrate the desired outcomes or the positive impact that can be achieved through specific efforts. This helps drive engagement, ownership, and a sense of purpose among your listeners.
Example: If you’re advocating for a new sustainability initiative in your workplace, you can share stories that highlight the positive impact of similar initiatives in other organizations. Illustrate the actions taken, such as reducing waste, implementing energy-saving measures, or promoting eco-friendly practices. By showcasing the benefits and success stories, you motivate your colleagues to embrace similar actions and contribute to a sustainable workplace.
Keep it humble
Maintain humility and avoid excessive self-promotion or arrogance in your storytelling. Focus on the collective efforts, teamwork, and lessons learned rather than solely highlighting personal achievements. Humility fosters authenticity, credibility, and a sense of humility among your audience.
Example: Suppose you’re sharing a story about a project that achieved significant success. Instead of solely attributing the success to yourself or a specific individual, acknowledge the contributions of the entire team. Highlight how collaboration, diverse perspectives, and collective effort played a crucial role in the project’s achievements. By keeping your story humble, you foster a sense of teamwork and inclusivity.
Storytelling can make or break any initiative. A poor storyteller can butcher even the best ideas, while a strong storyteller can present a daunting concept with care and compassion for their audience. It will take practice, but when done well, good storytelling can make a major impact on your team, your organization, and your entire career.
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