“I believe I have the popular reputation of being a story-teller, but I do not deserve the name in its general sense, for it is not the story itself, but its purpose, or effect, that interests me.” – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln is a highly influential leader in history, who was a master at communication, and storytelling was a tool that he often used. Donald P. Phillips in his book, Lincoln on Leadership, writes, “Conversation was Lincoln’s chief form of persuasion and the single most important and effective aspect of his leadership style.” Lincoln saw that investing in relationships was valuable and stories were a part of this. It was what made him such an influential leader.
Brene Brown is a contemporary social scientist who studies people’s stories. In her book, Rising Strong, she states “The most transformative and resilient leaders that I’ve worked with over the course of my career have three things in common: First, they recognize the central role that relationships and story play in culture and strategy, and they stay curious about their own emotions, thoughts and behaviors.” What made Lincoln an influential leader, Brene Brown is still finding true for leaders of today.
So, how do we become master storytellers? In my first article, I discussed the benefits of storytelling, and in the second article I shared how to engage others through stories. In this article, we will explore through two master storytellers, Abraham Lincoln and Brene Brown, how to tell effective stories.
Focus on Purpose & People
As the quote by Lincoln at the beginning of this article suggests, he was very intentional with his use of stories. Lincoln goes on to say, “I often avoid a long and useless discussion by others or a laborious explanation on my own part by a short story that illustrates my point of view. So, too, the sharpness of a refusal or the edge of a rebuke may be blunted by an appropriate story, so as to save a wounded feeling and yet serve the purpose. No, I am not simply a story-teller, but story-telling as an emollient saves me much friction and stress.” Lincoln used stories not just for entertainment, but instead to intentionally build bridges in relationships.
Brene Brown also echoes Lincoln’s sentiments. She goes on to state the following about transformative leaders, “Second, they understand and stay curious how emotions, thoughts, and behaviors are connected in the people they lead, and how those factors effect relationships and perception.” Stories connect together how people are thinking, feeling and acting. When used purposely with the focus of how to connect to others, stories are powerful. So when thinking of using a story always first reflect on your purpose.
Follow an Effective Story Outline
When thinking of stories, what comes to mind first? Does a childhood story pop up? Another master at story telling is the Walt Disney Company. When Brene Brown was researching stories, she went to Pixar to learn how they do it. In her book, she lists three steps to story writing from Pixar:
Act 1: The protagonist is called to adventure and accepts the adventure. The rules of the world are established, and the end of Act 1 is the ‘inciting incident.’
Act 2: The protagonist looks for every comfortable way to solve the problem. By the climax, he learns what it’s really going to take to solve the problem. This act includes the ‘lowest of the low.’
Act 3: The protagonist needs to prove she’s learned the lesson, usually showing a willingness to prove this at all costs. This is all about redemption – an enlightened character knowing what to do to resolve conflict.
When conceptualizing how to tell a story, this provides a practical outline to follow. Be aware of the challenging incident, the struggle, and the lessons learned. I think that you will find that a lot of the stories from your own life and other’s lives naturally follow this outline. Lincoln followed a similar outline often in his speeches, where he first spoke of the past, then the present, and finally to a renewal that led to the future. Outlines will help you think through how to convey your purpose.
Practice
Donald T. Phillips notes that Lincoln was shy and introverted as a youth. He did not seem like a charismatic storyteller when he was young. However, Lincoln did have strengths in learning. He learned through books, people and life experiences. He then practiced what he learned by sharing stores at the local tavern in the evenings. Brene Brown shares another way to practice stories. She encourages people to practice through writing down their stories.
To be an effective storyteller, first, have a purpose and always keep the focus of using stories as a bridge to relationships. Second, take time to create your stories in a form that will be effective for communication, and finally practice. How will you start to become an influential leader thorough stroytelling today?