How do you know if your storytelling is engaging learners?

As a business professor, I have to share information many students feel is staid and boring. I am regularly shaping the theme in a narrative that relates to real life and real concerns. Having my learning objective on hand first allows my great breadth in deciding how to translate the knowledge. Shall I use a personal story, or someone else's? will it be a tale of economic glory or bust! I want the story to resonate and be remembered, as I know that the theme sticks to the emotion I leave. Sometimes a little humour and a lot of personality is required, professors aren't seen as having an engaging personality, so it helps! The students want to connect with me and because of the diversity in the room, diverse delivery is also important.

Clearly define what you aim to achieve with your story. Is it to impart knowledge, change a behavior, or simply entertain? Your goals will shape your storytelling strategy.

When people are not only listening, but questioning, smiling, answering and interacting with you and with each other, that means storytelling is not only story telling but also story gaining too.

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. Are you looking to educate, motivate, influence, inspire ... knowing this will improve outcome of your storytelling. Taking a persuasion stance when trying to educate will not land ... to take that education stance and build your storytelling from there.

Begin by clearly defining your goals, but temper expectations, acknowledging diverse audience responses. When possible, consider outcomes on a sliding scale, emphasizing the key takeaway for the majority. Effective engagement hinges on aligning content with audience needs, sparking curiosity, and fostering relevance. Focusing on a specific takeaway with realistic expectations will give you more resources to refine/improve your storytelling.

There is a lot more to storytelling than advocacy. Storytelling is an opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences. Stories shape, strengthen, and sometimes even challenge our opinions and values. And the beauty is that sharing our stories is not only about us — they are also about the individuals who take time to listen to or read them and where those stories take us from there.

Understanding the audiences context and needs is essential for crafting resonant narratives. I would add that empathy is key in this process. Put yourself in your audience's shoes and consider what would move, inspire, or inform them. What challenges are they facing? What aspirations do they hold? Asking for feedback can also help refine your understanding about the audience. Engage in conversations, surveys, or focus groups to gain direct insights. The more we genuinely know and appreciate our audience, the more authentic and impactful our stories will be. By keeping their perspective at the heart of our storytelling, we can forge deeper connections and spark meaningful change.

Knowing who the people are as your target of course is incredibly important. Their preferences, nuances, segmentation .. ok is important. However, more than that - it is also about thinking how you want to make them feel - how do you want to connect with them - how do they prefer to learn? Finally - don't forget that everyone is an individual - so respect that in your storytelling.

Understanding the audience and building the story based on the format and tone resonates with them the most, is important. Also the platform on which your audience is based is equally important. This will help you in shortlisting the format and also the length of the story you should create. You can create audience personas based on observations and feedback on past stories as well, to exactly understand their needs and preferences.

Understand the demographics, interests, and learning styles of your audience. This knowledge allows you to tailor your story in a way that resonates with them.

The format and structure of the story need to be organised with no scope of confusion. A good flow not only keeps the audience engaged but also delivers the message you want to convey properly. An addition of clear CTA combined with key takeaways for the audience can help them in resonating with the story and taking quick and informed decisions.

Always use a structure when storytelling.... Keep to 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.

Structure serves as the scaffolding upon which your story unfolds. Choose the right framework to guide your narrative journey. Whether it's the classic hero's journey, a compelling three-act structure, or a dynamic nonlinear approach, let the contours of your tale amplify its impact, leading your learners on a transformative odyssey brimming with intrigue and revelation.

Incorporating emotions is my favorite part of storytelling. Emotions are a marketer's secret weapon. Not only that, they're everyone's secret weapon. They forge connections, boost memorability, and capture attention in a noisy world. Emotional stories build trust, drive action, and foster long-term loyalty. They differentiate brands, resonate with target audiences, and create shareable content. The ultimate reality is that emotional storytelling transforms brands from a salesy product distributor, into some of the most meaningful real-life communities, that leave a lasting impact on their customers. And they secure long-term places in customers' hearts.

Add sensory details to your story. Consider leveraging on Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Olfactory and Gustatory. Using descriptive sensory details helps paint a picture of your story, hence encouraging your audience to imagine and put themselves into your setting.

Emotions are the lifeblood of storytelling, infusing your narrative with depth and resonance. Stir the depths of your audience's emotions—ignite their passions, evoke their empathy, and unleash the full spectrum of human feeling. For it's through the kaleidoscope of emotion that your story transcends the realm of mere information, weaving a tapestry of experience that lingers long after the final chapter unfolds.

Focus on your own journey and give others the space to figure theirs out. You can’t make everyone happy and that isn’t your job. You can, however, approach every single issue with an overabundance of empathy and grace.

Una narrativa emocional siempre despierta interés y por lo tanto conecta mucho mejor con tu audiencia. La emoción es la vía directa a la atención.

To craft good engaging stories one needs to constantly work on the feedback. This can be from the comments you got from your audience on past stories or you can also revisit your old stories and analyse which ones gave you the best results. Improvising constantly helps you in creating a good story that resonates with the audience.

Feedback is the compass that guides your storytelling journey. Embrace it with open arms, welcoming both praise and critique as invaluable allies on your quest for mastery. Listen intently to the whispers of your audience— their insights, their reactions, their unspoken desires. For in their feedback lies the wisdom to refine your craft, to elevate your storytelling from good to truly extraordinary.

La forma de contar una historia también influye en la percepción del mensaje. Puedes captar la atención de tus alumnos a través de la asociación de emociones que contagia tu Storytelling. Unas historias pueden precisar pasión y entusiasmo, otras necesitan un ritmo trepidante que lleve rápido a un resultado y algunas requieren espacios de silencio y pausas para ser interiorizadas. Identificar qué historia va mejor con cada audiencia y cuidar el momento y la manera en la que vas a contarla, te ayudará a mantener la atención de tus alumnos.

Mastery is born of relentless practice. Commit yourself wholeheartedly to the pursuit of excellence, honing your craft with unwavering determination and boundless creativity. Embrace each opportunity as a chance to grow, to evolve, to push the boundaries of what's possible. For it's through the crucible of practice that your storytelling prowess blossoms, illuminating the hearts and minds of your eager learners with the brilliance of your artistry.

Firstly identify their level of understanding of the matter. Then modify the language and the story according to that level. Even the number of ‘pause for effect’ needs to match the audience

They say: “don’t share your vulnerability, it will be used against you” Unfortunately it is true. Until you own your story. I believe that what once broke you, makes you so much stronger. I do not share my caregiving story so people can see me as a victim. Absolutely NOT. I am sharing it because someone out there might benefit from it. I know this because I hoped to find someone too when I first became one myself. The stigma and taboo is REAL. What you do with my story is on you. I know exactly what I decided to do with mine. I owned mine with pride and I took back my narrative for good with no regrets. There is so much power in storytelling. We are more than a “period” in our lives. 😊

If our storytelling is engaging learners we'll get feedback/ reaction in the form of doubts, queries and questions. If there is no such response there can only be two possibilities. One - our storytelling was simple and easy to understand. (Which is quite rare) Two - our storytelling was too boring even to fetch a response! (Which only means we need to improve) In order to engage learners, we need to add points in our story which arouse the curiosity of the learner. Or sometimes deliberately make a mistake to see if learners notice and react to it.

There are myriad threads to weave into the fabric of your narrative. From the power of visuals to the allure of interactivity, from the magic of pacing to the potency of authenticity— consider every element with meticulous care, crafting a symphony of storytelling that dazzles the senses and transforms the lives of your learners in ways beyond measure.

Mastering storytelling is a challenging art form, requiring you to convey narratives as if they were your own experiences. It's crucial to immerse yourself in the story to truly captivate your audience, sparking their curiosity and holding their interest. Once mastered, this skill allows you to effortlessly command attention regardless of the story, setting, or audience.