Make Storytelling Your Superpower at Work

When I was working on my first book, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘺𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭, I received a lukewarm response from my editor after submitting the first chapter. His feedback was invaluable: tell more personal stories — be vulnerable and let readers in. This advice was gold. As soon as I opened up, engaged all five senses, and let go of the fear of judgment, the book became so much more impactful and relatable. This principle applies to all forms of storytelling and extends to the workplace, too.

Whether asking for more resources, presenting an update, negotiating, or giving employee feedback, storytelling can be a powerful tool.

I recently had the opportunity to chat with author & global speaker Bridgett McGowen for a TONE Networks webinar on storytelling. At the end of our discussion, we summarized our best tips, which I want to share with you:

🎯 Understand your audience and cater your message to them.
🎯 Tell your story in a way that makes people feel it. Be emotive and add the unexpected.
🎯 Be yourself. Authenticity will connect you to your audience.
🎯 Hook people right away by using your origin story.
🎯 Make the most of data and statistics to add dimension to your story.
🎯 Practice, practice, practice. The more you do it, the more comfortable you will be.

If you’re interested in sharpening your storytelling skills, I have a great resource for you. Check out How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth. 

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