Storytelling it’s not about you
We tell stories to our coworkers and peers all the time, to persuade someone to support our project, to explain to an employee how he might improve, or to inspire a team that is facing challenges.
That said, don’t make yourself the star of your own story. A story about your chauffeured car and having millions in stock options is not going to move your employees. You can be a central figure, but the ultimate focus should be on people you know, lessons you’ve learned, or events you’ve witnessed.
And whenever possible, you should endeavor to “make the audience or employees the hero. It increases their engagement and willingness to buy in to your message. One of the main reasons we listen to stories is to create a deeper belief in ourselves. But when the storyteller talks about how great they are, the audience shuts down. The more you celebrate your own decisions, the less likely your audience will connect with you and your message.
