Just Story It

"Being of a slightly contrarian frame of mind, however, I think it’s important that we remind ourselves that stories do have limits, and excessive reliance on them can weaken our persuasive efforts, especially when our listeners start probing a little deeper to find the real truth behind them."

I like how the author Jack Malcolm starts out his blog. Yes, stories can be deceptive just like any other form of communication.

And I agree with his first point: they may be untrue or exaggerated.

After that however, I put my cranky pants on.

The next point advocates is that stories are ALWAYS incomplete; that nuance and complexity get in the way of a good story.

Balderdash I say!! What about the creation of rich media, layered meanings, and multiple interpretations? 

The next point is equally problematic: stories may be true, but insufficient; that the more vivid and compelling a story, the more it can mislead because the listener focuses in on the details instead of the larger picture. 

Aaaarrrgghh! All that says to me is that when that happens, the teller is not that skilled in storytelling and the crafting of co-created meanings which speak to a larger picture. 

Bottom line for all of us? Keep learning the craft of storytelling. Know how to layer multiple meanings into your biz stories when needed. Keep drawing out the bigger picture in your stories when needed. And be authentic.

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it 

"Despite working in marketing for more than 10 years, let me first share this rare point of view among people in my industry: a lot of marketing actually IS complete BS."

Hallelujah! Finally someone is calling a spade a spade. We periodically need articles like this to keep us on the straight and narrow path. And to make sure we are continuing to build credibility instead of undermining it with our stories.

Is all marketing BS? No. Are all stories BS? No.

However, is it starting to feel like marketing and busines stories are BS? Yes.

Why?

1. Lack of authenticity ("I can make stuff up or evade the issue to sway you").
2. A focus on persuasion (If you do X you will receive Y) instead of influence (engagement, inspiration, truth telling).
3. The inability to walk the talk -- that means living/embodying the biz stories being told.

All this leads, as the author Rohit Bhargava points out, to distrust and a believability crisis.

So what is a conscientious biz storyteller to do? Follow the tips suggested here. Read the article for all the insights and tips. 

Oh and BTW -- despite what this article and Saturday Night Live say, and as campy/hokey as that commerical is, I get a thrill from Brad Pitt!

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it 

The root cause of organizational dysfunction is often distance — the distance between leaders who communicate in a top-down fashion and employees who develop a sense of estrangement from those leaders.

Here is a quick read with some powerful points to make: leaders fall short as communicators, yet following these tips will help set leaders on the right path to connecting, engaging with, and moving people.

Now that sounds pretty one-sided but here's the truth that this article also conveys -- if you follow the author's advice, you will be just as changed by the stories you hear as by the stories you tell.

That's where the magic of stories lay -- within the story sharing. If you use the principles in this article (listening more & better, small groups, show trust, authenticity), you will close that leadership gap and be as deeply affected by the process as your ability to deeply affect others.

Hmmmm -- now that's something to think about! Are you game?

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it