Storytelling is a crucial communication strategy and a powerful method for business leaders. For example, when leading people into the future, taking them through change, influencing, unifying people towards a common purpose, transmitting values, motivating and inspiring. Incorporating stories into your messages help to develop a shared sense of identity. The power of story can be seen in MRI scans which reveal that when we read/hear words like "perfume" and "coffee", our primary olfactory cortex activates. We know from research that when someone listens to a character-driven story, their brain immediately floods with oxytocin. The hormone cortisol is released during the rising arc of the story, prompting a powerful emotional reaction, this biological reaction holds even when the listener knows the story is fiction. Crafting stories which put our users as the characters is a powerful tool that we can use to align team members.
A few quick story tips:
We are surrounded by stories; keep a story journal as you hear stories.
Below are frameworks from the storytelling world. Following a structure helps your audience ease into the story you are trying to tell.