Narrate to relate: Storytelling to turn facts into feelings
Last week we concluded our Masterclass series on ‘Data Storytelling’ with Cat Matson.
Across the two sessions we had more than 200 Village Professionals learn about how storytelling can help us to connect, inform and build trust with our residents – even with difficult subject matter such as Village Budgets.
Why is storytelling so effective?
Stories engage both the head and the heart.
In the example of Village Budget, rather than presenting dry numbers or technical jargon, storytelling allows us to humanise the message, grounding it in real-world experiences people can relate to.
A story can frame a financial challenge as a shared journey, explain a budget decision through the lens of values and priorities, or highlight the impact of resource choices on real lives.
Useful tool: Storytelling Canvas
Cat shared a simple framework called a Storytelling Canvas to help plan and shape a compelling story.
Interestingly, Cat advocates to start with your GOAL, or desired outcome, in mind.
From this you can settle on the SUBJECT and identify your AUDIENCE.
Now, before you begin planning any further – its time to tap into those emotional intelligence skills we have been developing over the past few months in the Knowledge Centre. BEFORE crafting your story, take a moment to understand how your audience feels and thinks What might your audience want? What is it that you are addressing?
SET THE SCENE by creating a context that helps the audience understand why you are taking a course of action. Try to rely on other stories you’ve read or heard – share them, refer to them.
Importantly, you need to MAKE YOUR POINT. What is the main message you want to get across to achieve support from your audience? Explain how this course of action will create benefits while at the same time demonstrating you understand how what you propose might impact them.
In planning your CONCLUSION consider what you want your audience to go away remembering and AFTERWARDS, circle back around to collect feedback. How do they feel? What else do they want to know?
Wanting to develop your communication skills further?
If you are keen to develop your communication skills further, join us in July and August at our Professional Development Days. Cat will be with us, in person, at each capital city when we go from storytelling to “Communicating through conflict.”
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