How can you use storytelling to connect with remote teams?

Storytelling is both the glue that holds any group larger than about 150 humans together. It is also one of the four cornerstones of cultural transformation, according to m eminent scholar, Dr. Riane Eisler. The stories we tell, especially to our children, matter tremendously. Because they shape each generation’s understanding of how the world works. We can choose to tell stories based on dominance, violence, and hierarchy - or a stories of partnerism, caring, interdependence, and actualization. These stories underlie everything. Economy, ecology, relationship… So stories matter far more than we’ve been led to believe. Tell them with reverence. Tell them wisely.

Storytelling matters. Plain and simple. It helps us engage with one another, it simplifies complex ideas, and fosters trust. Stories enable us to connect with one another emotionally, and most importantly, they inspire action. Stories can transcend cultural barriers and create universal appeal. In short, storytelling humanizes each and every one of us, making what we share with one another more memorable and impactful. Storytelling is the key that helps us stand out in a crowded room.

Storytelling is a superpower and is the heart of impactful communication. By approaching all of your communications through the lens of storytelling, you will level up the impact you will have on people.

These are great, but I'll add one more that people often don't think about. Everyone wants to know if they are "normal". Am I ok? I can check myself against your story. When I hear you tell me how you solved a problem, how you reacted in a situation, what you fear, what you are proud of...you give me insight into not only the kind of person you are, but also they kind of person I am. Stories share contextualized experiences. They allow me to benefit from your experience without having to suffer your pain. Humans have told stories for 100K years...they still work because they are a part of what it means to be human. Tell them! Don't overcomplicate it.

Storytelling is a common thread cutting across generations, ethnicities, cultural differences, geographical differences and so on. It is one of the best ways to connect with each other and to have deep, meaningful relationships. Everyone has a story to tell and people should be encouraged to tell the stories in any way or form possible. The inherent curiosity of us humans to know the unknown is leveraged in storytelling to form lasting connections. So don't be shy and express your story, all the while encouraging others also to do the same!

The way I start writing stories isn't in the order I tell them. I start by writing the moment of change. If I don't have a good moment of change, I don't have a good story. Think of it as the "Until one day I..." moment. I struggled, until one day I read a quote that changed everything. I struggled, until I hired a professional to help me. I struggled, until one day I found the missing piece. I write the moment of change...then I usually continue to the ending. Now, I go back and write the beginning. Because I know where the story will go, I don't include a bunch of distractions I'd have to edit out later. In the past 18 months, I've written 375 real-life stories using this method. It works...and it's a time saver.

Especially when storytelling with remote or hybrid teams, brevity is key. Attention spans are short and people are pressed for time. Any 5 minute story can also be told in 30 seconds; it requires you practicing and distilling it down to the key themes and message. As an example, watch how a political candidate does it in a debate when they only have a few seconds to share a voter story before the buzzer rings.

Crafting a story is an art in itself. I love the classic three part storytelling method, problem-agitate-solution. You start with a hook which can be a problem your readers currently have. But you have to be very careful with the hooks, hooks can make or break a story. Hooks tap into the inherent urge of the readers to know the unknown. So just give a trailer and be very specific to not use click baits. The crucial thing here is your hook should match up with the story that follows. Click baits generally do the opposite. Then you agitate this problem, add some nuances and at last you give the solution. And remember always and with the bang!

Craft impactful stories by understanding your audience and defining a clear purpose. What do they want to feel, know, and do? Start with a compelling hook. A way to get your audience to lean in. The meat of your story is the hero (your audience) dealing with a villain. Present a relatable conflict, and detail the journey to resolution. Finally, the payoff. The lesson or takeaway that ties back to your audience's challenges. Use simple, engaging language to evoke emotions and inspire action.

Start with a captivating hook or anecdote to grab your audience's attention. Begin your story in media res (in the middle of things) to create curiosity.

Remember that when remote, you lose the full sensory benefits of being physical. Therefore you will need to overcompensate for this and use ways to keep a digital audience engaged. Increased interaction, use of visual aids, feedback, and more succinct messaging as well as a reduce timeline are all elements that can enhance the experience.

Just imagine you are telling the story to your best friend! Delivering a story depends upon what story you're telling. Personal stories can have a greater impact with videos. Inspirational stories might do better with carousels. And stories related to technical discussion can be told to a podcast. The crucial thing here is to use a conversational tone. I love this idea of imagining telling the story to one person - ideally your best friend. Don't use complicated words, jargon or confusing details. The goal here is to have a connection, not a transaction!

Delivering stories to a remote team requires thoughtful consideration of the medium: Use video calls: They offer a more personal touch than emails or text-based chats. Leverage storytelling platforms: Tools like digital whiteboards can help visualize stories. Be mindful of timing: Choose times when the team is likely to be most receptive and undistracted.

You can use the same story in different formats. For example, if you have a compelling case study to share, you may consider creating a sales deck around it, a social media graphic, and a blog post, to share that story. Identify the mediums you use for storytelling and adapt your material in as many places as it makes sense.

Follow the SCQA (Situation, Complication, Question, Answer) structure to keep your storytelling concise and focused.Also, vary your storytelling mediums based on your remote team's preferences.

Active listening is a skill all leaders should develop. Implementing active listening shows your team that you care and are in tune with their concerns, relate to them in a healthy way, and are responsive to them. I consider it to be the first step in team building. You can gain valuable insights into your team.

Encouraging your team to share their stories strengthens connections and fosters a culture of openness: Create a safe space: Encourage sharing by showing empathy and withholding judgment. Be an active listener: Show genuine interest through verbal affirmations or body language (nodding, smiling). Ask open-ended questions: This encourages deeper storytelling and shows engagement.

1. Create Shared Narratives Encourage team members to share their personal stories during meetings. This helps build trust and a sense of belonging, making everyone feel more connected despite physical distances. 2. Highlight Team Achievements. Use storytelling to celebrate collective wins. Narrate the journey of a successful project, emphasizing each member’s contribution. This not only boosts morale but also reinforces team spirit. 3. Foster Open Dialogue. Encourage open communication by sharing stories that highlight challenges and solutions. This can inspire others and create a culture of collaboration and support.

Practice active listening during virtual meetings by encouraging team members to share their experiences and stories. Use techniques like paraphrasing and asking clarifying questions.

Escuchar por el placer de aprender y no para responder. Esa es la clave. Crear un espacio en el que compartir relatos personales puede marcar la diferencia y crear conexiones únicas.

Innovative stories challenge the dominant perspective and allow for new relational structures to surface. When you’re creating a culture where your team is remote, stories are a way to form a common understanding of things like mission, purpose, challenges, goals, and even organizational style. The better the story you can tell, the better the team works together. Innovative storytelling is inclusive of everyone. It is NOT dominated by violence, hierarchy, and a hell-bent need to win! Innovative storytelling brings new possibilities to the light. Just going to tag one of my favorite, most innovative storytellers ever right here - can I do that? Desiree Dreisenaar is a wonderful storyteller in this vein.

“The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at work.” Michael Jackson's insight applies to storytelling. As for enhancing your skills, the main reason you want to habitually read the masters is simple: creative writing is merely an exercise of drawing from your "well." And because the writer's well is the "subconscious," the conscious act of such drawing requires sufficient input, first. "Garbage in, garbage out," goes the saying. For this reason, familiarize yourself with great literature. Experience guides instinct. "Ohh..." I'll occasionally mumble when writing. "I'll use Hemingway's "iceberg" theory for this or Angelou's purple prose for that." In short, the greater the known — the greater the judgment.

Always use a storytelling structure. Keep the core principals - or layers as I call them in my storytelling model (the sprout model) - this will guide your story. Be sure to know the impact you want to make, the people that you are telling the story to, set starting context and direction, move into the main event and what in particular it is you are addressing, then bring clarity, conclusion and a lasting impression to the end point ... not forgetting to nurture the story with creativity, energy and perspective.

Practice telling your story to your mom, to your friends, to your colleagues. Notice how it shapes and adapts depending the audience. This helps when it comes the time to say it to your team or your clients. Make a deck, tell it standing up and sitting down, notice the differente. Use your hands, use your tone of voice. Be present telling the story so you do not perform it and you just tell it naturally but with the right inflections. Practice, practice, practice!

“We are what we repeatedly do," Aristotle said. Over 2,000 years later, this maxim still serves as the foundation of greatness. Indeed, it's not by accident no one has ever become great by accident. In short, no matter the endeavor, always remember: repetition is the father of excellence.

To connect with remote teams through storytelling, start by sharing personal experiences that everyone can relate to. Use straightforward language to keep your message easy to understand and interesting. Include team accomplishments and challenges in your stories to build a sense of togetherness. Make sure your stories are inclusive, taking into account the diverse perspectives within the remote team. Share stories regularly to maintain a strong connection, and encourage team members to share their own experiences. The aim is to create a shared understanding and strengthen the bond among remote team members.

Share your stories on LinkedIn! This makes you stay relevant with your remote colleagues and your network. Comment and respond to comments so people feel empathy for you since they see you beyond work but still in a professional environment.

Keep It Human. Remember, storytelling isn’t just about business. Share anecdotes that reflect the human side of your team, such as personal milestones or humorous incidents. This helps in creating deeper connections.

Storytelling is a powerful tool for connecting with remote teams on a human level. By sharing personal experiences, failures and successes, leaders can create a sense of belonging and understanding among team members. Incorporating storytelling into virtual meetings and communication helps humanize interactions and strengthen relationships. It allows team members to see the human side of their colleagues and creates empathy, ultimately enhancing collaboration and productivity within remote teams.