How do you craft authentic and creative leadership stories?

Your purpose is your guiding star, the north on your compass of leadership. It's the fuel that ignites your passion and propels you forward, inspiring others to join you on your journey. When you find your purpose, you tap into an endless reservoir of energy and determination, driving you to overcome any obstacle in your path. So, dive deep within yourself, unearth your purpose, and let it shine through every word and action, illuminating the path for those who follow.

Arguably the most important element of storytelling. Much like anything you do, you need to know why you are doing it. This is the same with your storytelling. I call this the Impact Layer, in my unique storytelling model. Defining the impact that you wish to make upon the people that you are telling the story to, will then define how you will tell that story, and more so the content of that story. Are you looking to educate, motivate, influence, inspire ... knowing this will improve outcome of your storytelling.

When choosing a story to tell, whether a story of leadership or something else, your audience is pivotal in the selection of narrative. The meaning of long, complex and boring will all depend on context - in this case, that context is represented by the intended recipients of your story's core message. Similarily, relevant, meaningful and memorable is found in analysing your audience carefully. Where are they on their leadership journeys? What will resonate with them? What will give them a boost to continue? Start there, and you'll ensure an impactful story selection from the get-go.

Depois de ter seu propósito, você precisa encontrar uma história que o apoie e se relacione com seu público. Você pode se basear em suas próprias experiências pessoais ou profissionais, ou usar histórias de outras fontes, como livros, filmes ou história. O segredo é escolher uma história que seja relevante, significativa e memorável. Evite histórias muito longas, complexas ou chatas, ou que contradigam sua mensagem ou valores.

One thing to remember is that even if your story has a beginning, middle, end...it might not be a "compelling" story. The key to really pulling people in, is to carve out a slice of time you're talking about, not just a general situation. You need to get them into your body by describing what you are feeling, seeing, experiencing. Mostly importantly, your story needs have a hurdle. I think often times, leaders are afraid that hurdles and vulnerability make them appear weak, but it's the opposite.

Every great story has a structure, a rhythm that guides the listener from beginning to end, captivating their attention and stirring their emotions along the way. Craft your story with intention, building suspense, tension, and resolution in all the right places. Create a narrative arc that takes your audience on a journey, leading them from a place of familiarity to one of transformation, leaving them inspired and empowered to take action.

🪝 Hook them, engage them, then deliver the payoff. 👊🏻 Crafting a compelling story involves three key parts: hook, meat, and payoff. Start with a hook—a captivating opening that grabs your audience's attention. Next, the meat of your story. This is where you provide substantial content, elaborating on the main events, challenges, and actions. Engage your audience with rich details, emotions, and relatable experiences. Make sure to keep the narrative focused and avoid unnecessary complexity. Finally, the payoff. This is the resolution where you reveal the outcome and the impact. Ensure it ties back to your initial hook and reinforces your main message.

Me parece importante aclarar que yo escribo sobre historias de personas en situación de vulnerabilidad, pobreza, indigencia, situación de calle. Escribo sobre historias reales. Por eso, para cuidar la privacidad de esas personas, elijo cambiar los nombres. Pero SIEMPRE que he escrito una historia usando un nombre, por más que no sea el real, la historia tuvo más impacto. Siempre tuve mucho registro de esos detalles que me conmueven al vivirlos para luego narrarlos. Me doy cuenta por los comentarios o mensajes, que esos detalles son los que hacen la diferencia. Por último, apelo a narrar realidades pero no a dar "golpes bajos". Quiero generar empatía, no lástima. Jamás olvido eso.

Don't be afraid to add your own unique flair to your leadership stories. Infuse them with humour, drama, or suspense, whatever it takes to keep your audience engaged and enthralled. Paint vivid pictures with your words, evoking emotions and imagery that transport your listeners to another place and time. Your flair is what sets your stories apart, making them memorable and impactful long after they've been shared.

📝 Stories stick with us. Details make them unforgettable. 👊🏻 Imagine the bustling noise of a newsroom, typewriters clattering away. Suddenly, the editor yells, "Stop the presses!" Stories come alive with moments like these. Quotes and conversations are the lifeblood of engaging tales. Consider the sage advice of a mentor or witty banter between colleagues. Sensory details are your paintbrush. Describe the scent of fresh coffee, the hum of fluorescent lights, or the warmth of a sunny morning meeting. Figurative language adds spice. "Her determination was a rock in a storm," resonates more than saying she was determined. Leave them with a twist or lesson.

Just have fun. Period. It's really that simple! Would YOU sit through the presentation you're giving? 🤔 Personality and energy are infectious. Don't try to be anybody you're not. Take a stance. Choose a corner of the room. They’ll come for your opinion.

Algo que abunda mucho en la narración de historias de ONGs o Fundaciones, es el liderazgo individual. Se viven generando "Rockstars" de la transformación que parece que hicieran todo solos, o que fueran por el mundo salvando vidas. Ese tipo de artículos me generan repulsión. También lo hacen aquellos que sacan todo el poder de la persona y se lo pasan al agente social que las ayuda. Intento evitar eso. A la vez, el narrar lo que salió bien pero también la enorme cantidad de cosas que salen más, me hacen sentir no solamente más sincera, sino más cercana. No todas las personas saben cómo ayudar a otros, a veces lo viven con culpa, y ese no es un sentimiento que quiera genera, porque paraliza, no motiva a accionar. La autenticidad es esencial!

Authentic leadership stories stem from your true self and leadership style. Often, I encounter stories modeled after TED Talks or other popular formats, but the delivery falls flat. If it's not how you naturally interact with your stakeholders daily, it won't resonate with them at all. Good, authentic stories often involve real experiences of trials and tribulations, vulnerabilities, and successes. Tap into your natural style and make it work for you. For example, humor may not be your creative outlet if you're a hard facts person, but presenting compelling data that shocks or awes them could have a lasting impact.

Authenticity is what sets great leaders apart. Shonda Rhimes has openly shared that, early in her career, her dream was to be Nobel Prize-winning author, Toni Morrison. After gaining experience and perspective, Shonda reflected that she couldn’t achieve that “because Toni Morrison already had that job and wasn’t interested in giving it up”. Instead of dreaming of becoming Toni Morrison, Shonda got busy becoming herself (to great success!). Details and the experiences that shape a person are what make the best leadership stories.

Being you and being authentic when storytelling is very important. Sharing your honest self, your emotions, successes, vulnerabilities will all lead to a greater connection with the audience. Many leaders will find this hard, sharing this level of authenticity through a filter of the company you represent can be challenging. But it is worth it. Retaining a consistent level of authenticity will mean that you are being true to yourself and your personal brand. Be you, be authentic and through this you will build a stronger relationship and engagement with your audience.

Integrating structure and genuine emotion is essential in crafting authentic and creative leadership stories. My approach combines a structured process, supported by an AI tool I created, with deeply personal, one-on-one storytelling sessions. This ensures that the narratives are well-organized and resonate with authenticity and emotional depth, reflecting the storyteller's true experiences and values.

In crafting authentic and creative leadership stories, remember to consider your audience, their needs, desires, and perspectives. Tailor your stories to resonate with them, speaking their language and addressing their concerns. Be mindful of the context in which you are sharing your stories, adapting them to suit the situation and the medium through which they will be communicated. And above all, never stop refining and honing your storytelling craft, for it is through continual practice and iteration that we truly master the art of leadership storytelling.