For centuries, people have used stories to pass on knowledge. Stories connect the audience to a message and reshapes concepts and data into something meaningful that people remember. And according to Psychology Today, telling stories is the best way to teach.
After serving more than 25 years in leadership roles, from front-line to executive, I’ve accumulated lots of stories. Stories of the joy of extraordinary accomplishments, the frustration of resistance to change, the excitement of forming an unstoppable team, the dilemma of dealing with an unethical boss and the tears when making tough employee decisions. I use these stories when facilitating leadership workshops to bridge the gap between leadership concepts and real life situations. It’s a powerful learning model.
We all have unique experiences. Translating these experiences into stories is a great way to share your knowledge with others. Next time you are asked to present a topic or lead a discussion, start by telling a real story that brings your content to life.