Story Telling Its Not Just for Bedtime Anymore

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Story Telling- Its Not Just for Bedtime Anymore

• Dianne Kayala
• Paul Choquette
• RI Dept. of Human Services
• PersonalChoice Program

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This presentation borrows many elements
from Storytelling as Best Practice, presented by
Andy Goodman at The Robert Wood Johnson
Strategic Communications Program, May 2005
Richmond VA. For more Information
www.agoodmanonline.com
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Why Tell Stories
Numbers numb, jargon jars, and nobody ever
marched on Washington because of a pie chart. If
you want to connect with your audience, tell them
a story Andy Goodman
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Why Tell Stories?

• Storytelling is an integral part of our
  history, identities, culture and even how we
  remember

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What Makes a Good Story?

• A time-tested structure, telling details,
  emotion, truth and meaning are essential
  components

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Qualities of a Good Story

• Concise but Colorful
• Told in the Language of the Audience
• Not Predictable

• Engages the Audience
• Contains Truth
• Infused with Meaning

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8 Questions to Sharpen Your Storytelling

• Whos the protagonist? (Names help, but we need
  more than just a name)
• Have you created a world (e.g., time and place)
  for the audience to enter?
• Whats the hook (or common assumption)?
• What keeps it interesting?

• Wheres the conflict or dramatic tension?
• Have you spoken in the audiences language and
  included telling details?
• Whats the emotional hook?
• Is the meaning clear?

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How Do Stories Compare to Data?
Stories help us decide which facts to accept and
which to reject Just as Hearts lead Minds,
Stories should Precede Data
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Identify your Organizations core stories and
make sure everyone knows them by Heart
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The Six Types of Stories

• The Nature of our Challenge Stories
• How We Began (Mission Story)
• Emblematic Success Stories
• Performance Stories
• Striving to Improve Stories
• Where are We Going Stories