A recent conversation inspired me to get back to my blogging.  As I was speaking with a very courageous person, I thought that her story of difficulty, obstacles, renewal, strength and perseverance could inspire and motivate others to take action as well as help her connect with clients for the business she is planning to start-up and develop very soon.

The woman’s story influenced and inspired me to write again as I realised how important people’s stories are. 

So, this blog is to help others like her to use their story to motivate and connect with others and will begin a series of articles that are focused on different approaches in influencing both personally and professionally.  Enjoy.

“To be a person, is to have a story to tell” – Isak Dinesen

Storytelling to Influence:  What is Your Story?

What makes a story memorable?  Why do we as children love to hear stories at bedtime.  As teenagers, why do we love to scare each other with spooky tales.  When we are adults, why do we love to hear the stories of other people whether they are inspiring, sad, dramatic or just plain compelling?  What makes these stories influential in our lives?  What were your favourite stories growing up?  What news stories really capture your hearts and minds?  What movies and books stay with you and keep you coming back for more?  What do the best stories have in common?  Well, the answer may be different for all of us.  And some stories will inspire, motivate and influence some more than others. 

Stories are interwoven into all aspects of our lives.  Storytelling appears not only in our personal lives but also in our professional lives.  We grew up hearing stories that helped cement our values and beliefs.  We are drawn into stories on TV shows and even sometimes in commercials.  We love to hear juicy stories about people we know, like and dislike.  Leaders tell stories to inspire, teachers tell stories to educate, news presenters tell stories to share history and events. Stories capture our imagination, inspire us and compel us to come back for more. 

So how can you use the art and science of storytelling in your life and work? You can do this by consciously writing your personal story and sharing it with your clients and potential customers. Why would you do that? Your clients must know you before they trust you. A long time ago, when humans used to live in very small communities, everybody knew each other. They knew your family and they knew your traditions. In today’s society, that is not the case anymore.   People won’t know you initially, they may be weary from past experiences and they will not typically trust strangers. Storytelling is one of the best ways to create trust between you and your clients, so they have a chance to know who you really are and be able to connect with you.

So how do you become a story teller??  The fact is, you already are one.  We all are to some degree.  When you share how your day went with your spouse, when you tell your colleagues about your weekend, when you tell your friends about the drama that unfolds at work, these are all examples of you telling a story.  And just as the news is an account of historical events, just as movies and books are stories of either real or fictional events, the best stories follow a fairly common structure: 

·         The Beginning where you introduce the setting, the characters and the situation or conflict.

·         The Middle of the story develops through a series of events, complications and obstacles, all leading to a point or climax.

·         In the End, the Climax and the loose ends of the story are resolved. Tension rapidly dissipates because it's nearly impossible to sustain a reader's interest very long after the climax. Finish your story and get out.

Great stories existed long before there were books about something called Story Structure. The pattern of an enchanting story has been recreated again and again through time and around the world in myths and tales. The rhythm of these stories that capture our imaginations reflects not marketing trends but our collective struggle through life. Things that deeply resonate with us, do so because they speak to our inner workings. Structure, however, should not be a prison.  Use tips and advice on it only as a map, but go within yourself to find the road. Finding the road is the most pleasurable part of writing.

So, now, it’s your turn and to help you along, here is a quick outline for you to create your personal story:

·         Past: Where did you come from? What was the biggest adversity that you overcame? What did you learn? What was the most significant thing that happened in your life growing up?

·         Present: Why are you doing what you do? What do you love about your life now? What drives you now?

·         Future: Where are you going? What does your future look like?

I have a short version of my story that I tell and customise depending on the audience and whether it’s one-to-one or a presentation.  Find a format that you can use and tailor to your audience. Your prospective clients cannot trust you if they do not “know” you first. In my opinion, having a “Who am I?” story is one of the best ways to do that. Who are you? What is your story?

I look forward to hearing your story soon.

Catherine Endicott-Miles

In today's business world, the ability to present yourself and your ideas confidently is paramount. And while today's society is growing so much more technical with unlimited options in real-time social interaction, it is not enough to be good at emails, texting, skyping, blogging, etc. With all these technologies, we must continue to have conversations, give presentations, and influence those around us face to face if we expect to be able to make change happen.

And of course, there are many people out there that do this in a seemingly confident way. Interestingly though, there are levels of low confidence at all levels - even in the highest positions. Even more interestingly is that in asking my clients, over half feel unconfident to some degree in various situations, but they also tend to think they are the only one that feels that way.

So, in a way, take comfort if you do feel unconfident in some situations as it is likely that it is not always noticed. It can also be re-assuring that confidence is not a magical attribute only bestowed to a lucky few. It can and should be developed at all levels and with self-knowledge and preparation for the event you are feeling unconfident about, you can gain higher levels of confidence in presenting your ideas and influencing change.

So, welcome to my blog. Would love to hear your comments, thoughts, opinions on the above.