Earlier this year, Pam Allyn, the Executive Director of LitLife, a national organization specializing in innovative literacy education for schools and families, wrote an article entitled Storytelling Connects us All.
In her article, Allyn focuses on the importance of storytelling for the development of our children. Clinical psychologists and others might be interested in learning that research at the Yale Child Study Center shows that storytelling—especially between children and caregivers—is a key component of a person’s neurological development, and a skill that ultimately helps create a well-adjusted and resilient youth.
But stories aren’t just for the young. As Allyn notes:
Story connects us all. Children, adults, all of us everywhere can use the magic of story to find aspects of ourselves in others, and of others in ourselves. Story reminds us that connectedness to the world does not always mean some have more and some have less, but that we all have stories and that is what brings us together.
And so we return to one of my favourite themes — the importance of telling stories. One of the most valuable skills of that a public speaker can acquire is that of being a compelling teller of stories. Audiences crave them.
In 2008, Jeremy Hsu wrote an article for Scientific American entitled The Secrets of Storytelling: Why We Love a Good Yarn. In it, he examined the work of psychologists and neuroscientists who are studying the human penchant for storytelling. What they are discovering is fascinating, but it boils down to this: People are wired to enjoy stories.
Here are some key quotes that I took away from Hsu’s article:
- Storytelling is one of the few human traits that are truly universal across culture and through all of known history. … People in societies of all types weave narratives … And when a characteristic behavior shows up in so many different societies, researchers pay attention: its roots may tell us something about our evolutionary past.
- However narrative is defined, people know it when they feel it. Whether fiction or nonfiction, a narrative engages its audience through psychological realism — recognizable emotions and believable interactions among characters.
- [T]he best stories … captivate their audience, whose emotions can be inextricably tied to those of the story’s characters. Such immersion is a state psychologists call “narrative transport”.
- [M]ost scientists are starting to agree: stories have such a powerful and universal appeal that the neurological roots of both telling tales and enjoying them are probably tied to crucial parts of our social cognition.
- A 2007 study … found that a test audience responded more positively to advertisements in narrative form as compared with straightforward ads that encouraged viewers to think about the arguments for a product. Similarly … labeling information as “fact” increased critical analysis, whereas labeling information as “fiction” had the opposite effect. Studies such as these suggest people accept ideas more readily when their minds are in story mode as opposed to when they are in an analytical mind-set.
The takeaway for public speakers, of course, is to tell stories. They help us connect with our audiences in a way that all the charts, graphs, statistics and bullet points in the world will never be able to do. And, as I wrote in a previous post, stories help us make our messages stick. They help us to be memorable.
And that is a happy ending for any public speaker!
Pingback: Something more: A lesson from Chef’s Table | Manner of Speaking
Pingback: Analysis of a Speech by Andrew Solomon | Manner of Speaking
Pingback: Stretch your Speaking – Acting | Manner of Speaking
Pingback: Analysis of a speech by Oprah Winfrey | Manner of Speaking
Pingback: 10 Lessons from Jim Carrey for Public Speakers | Manner of Speaking
Pingback: The Science of Storytelling | Manner of Speaking
Pingback: What Kurt Vonnegut Can Teach Us About Business Stories | Manner of Speaking
Pingback: Elements Of A Viral Launch Page | Landing Page for Free
Pingback: Powerful “Stories of Unlimited” | Manner of Speaking
Pingback: Elements Of A Viral Launch Page - Logo design and website design blog
Pingback: A brain hack for your next presentation | Manner of Speaking
Pingback: Unconscious Branding–Ambiguity & Vagueness Work In Branding
Pingback: Why Story Telling | Prasanna's Road to WRiting
Pingback: How Imprtant is Story Telling | Prasanna's Road to WRiting
Pingback: Analysis of a Speech by Ed Gavagan : Spectacular Speaking Warsaw 2014
Pingback: Analysis of a Speech by Ed Gavagan | Manner of Speaking
Pingback: The Twist in the Tale | Manner of Speaking
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product |Layout to HTML
Pingback: Các Yếu Tố Cần Thiết của Một Trang Viral Launch | Luci's Blog
Pingback: Analysis of a (Very Short) Speech by Hans Rosling | Manner of Speaking
Pingback: Rethinking Email Marketing Sean Work « Amalik
Pingback: Rethinking Email Marketing
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product | My Lounge | Shake hands with the skilled
Pingback: Lessons from a Stunning Three-Minute Stop Motion Film | Manner of Speaking
Pingback: Analysis of a Speech by Kate Middleton | Manner of Speaking
Pingback: Nuggets of Storytelling Wisdom | Manner of Speaking
Pingback: Elements Of A Viral Launch Page - Feelz Magazine
Pingback: Inspiration Elements Of A Viral Launch Page
Pingback: Elements Of A Viral Launch Page
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product | Test
Pingback: The Presenters' Blog
Pingback: | One day one free
Pingback: Brave Knowledge » Elements Of A Viral Launch Page
Pingback: Elements Of A Viral Launch Page « younggirldating
Pingback: Lessons and examples of how to create a Viral Launch Page | Caotica
Pingback: Elements Of A Viral Launch Page » RSS Blog | O melhor da Blogosfera
Pingback: Elements Of A Viral Launch Page | Inspire Technologies
Pingback: Elements Of A Viral Launch Page | CS5 Design
Pingback: Elements Of A Viral Launch Page | Wordpress Training Course Brisbane: Next Course Thur 29th Sep 2011
Pingback: Elements Of A Viral Launch Page | Ruturaj Pradeep Kohok | Your Web Advisor
Pingback: Elements Of A Viral Launch Page | Testing themes
Pingback: Elements Of A Viral Launch Page | Blogs – NG Outsourcing
Pingback: Elements Of A Viral Launch Page | IdentityNepal.com
Pingback: Elements Of A Viral Launch Page - Smashing Magazine
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product – Web design training for fast and easy results at minimal cost
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product «
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product | Lee Harding Web Design in Widnes
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product « e-wok.fr, le blog
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product | Ruturaj Pradeep Kohok | Your Web Advisor
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product | Blogs – NG Outsourcing
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product | Remake Wordpress Theme
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product | Dotisio
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product | IdentityNepal.com
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product | Joomla Showcase : CSS Showcase
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product | Programming Blog
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product · All
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product | Neil Kearney Design
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product | 87studios.net
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product | CRICKET ka FUNDA
Pingback: Building An Effective ‘Coming Soon’ Page For Your Product - Smashing Magazine
Pingback: Analysis of a Speech by Kathryn Schulz | Manner of Speaking
Pingback: Telling Stories « Mobius Art and Science Initiative
Hi,
This is nice. Hope you are aware that storytelling has reached corporate world.
The last couple of years I have been reading about all aspects of storytelling. How it influences the economy, the society, leadership, authenticity, social media and so on. Interesting stuff. But then it happened to me: peer-to-peer storytelling. I connected my story to that of peers. And my peers and their matching stories helped me to come to a simple set of rules for creating your own new trade.
The last 3 years I have been guiding a lot of international companies in using storytelling as a business tool. I have given a dozen workshops and lectures about this theme to blue chip companies. I have been working with all sort of businesses, with all sort of people, at all levels. They’re all convinced about the new trade. The new trade is the new business as usual!
To make it simple and concrete I summarized my view in one sentence:
It’s all about people connecting with other people by sharing their stories for everyone to repeat hoping to inspire the world and ultimately make it a better place.
For more info http://www.linkedstories.com
What do you think about peer-to-peer storytelling?
Hi Raf and thanks for the comment. Great to see that you are spreading the word about the importance of telling stories. It is vital in today’s business world. Cheers!
I love this post John, with all the connections to the emotions of the receiver and story teller. All of us are wired to tell stories. After all, if you say to a small child: “Once upon a time …” What’s their reaction? When you walk into a room and see PowerPoint set up, do you immediately shout “Oh great … PowerPoint!!” If not, why not?
Thanks very much for the comment, Cordelia. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. I look forward to the day when people get excited about a PowerPoint presentation. Because that will mean that people will have started to use PowerPoint properly. Until that happy day – which is probably still a long way off – it is the stories that will engage us. “Once upon a time” are still among my most favourite words. Right up there next to “cold beer”.
Cheers!
John
Pingback: A Public Speaking Alphabet | Manner of Speaking
Pingback: The Psychology of Storytelling (via Manner of Speaking) « Charlie's Blog
Pingback: Storytelling Future, Evolution, False Language, Psychology, Marketing & More
I agree with Pam and her sayings … storytelling has a good effect on children. I always tell them good stories, before they go to sleep. Always tell children stories on what good habits are and how to lead a good life!