Every wonder why you remember a story with details, names, and vivid locations more than a simple phone number? Telling a story to make a point, is an impactful form of communication in work and your life. Here are simple ways why storytelling will improve your work.

Connecting on a Human Level

As humans we are wired to connect with mutual experiences and stories! This is how we relate to people, understand concepts, and meet on common ground when challenged, with stories. So, if it’s in our DNA, why do we remember a story our best friend tells us, but we can’t remember a simple 7-digit phone number or even a birthday?

Our brain, research has shown, mimics the storyteller and actually “relives” the story in our mind. We remember details due to the engagement with the storyteller and our visualization of the words spoken. The more intense the details, the more our mind is thinking and reliving that story for us personally.

Three Story Types

There are three types of stories we easily connect with using our own human experiences:

1. Continuity stories are where things don’t change, such as our values and other humanistic traits we all share.
2. Novelty stories are looking at the uniqueness of a “future world” or something that is just outside of the realm of possibility.
3. Transition stories are journeys of learning and how people or topics have changed or overcome obstacles.

Remembering these types of stories will help you improve your skills and more easily relate an event using your storytelling abilities.

Storytelling with an Improv Mindset

So, if storytelling is the way to go, how can I improve my skills?  “Practice makes permanent,” my 3rd grade teacher once told me.  Practice the skills of improv to hone your ability to relate an interesting topic, engage your audience, and be remembered as a great storyteller.

The term is referred to as “Improv Mindset,” which was actually tested recently during the pandemic and is a recent book by the same title. Globally, we all had a great deal of change to deal with very quickly, and we also pivoted solutions for greater success afterwards.  This is similar to taking a challenge and improvising your way around to another solution or learning opportunity.

The same is true for an improv mindset. Developing traits where you take risks, tell stories, and with feedback can pivot to make those stories impactful and meaningful for colleagues and your own growth.  Finally, you need to be actively listening to be able to tell your story effectively. Taking in ques from your audience and improving your storytelling every chance available will enable you to easily build upon your skills.

By practicing your storytelling abilities and using an improv mindset you will improve your communication and will more easily connect with people at work and in life.