Successful leaders in healthcare diagnostics tend to also be great storytellers. They have the ability to inform, influence, and motivate employees, candidates, and customers. Whether you are leading a team or trying to get buy-in on a new project or initiative, a compelling story can help you persuade others to join your mission and help you succeed in your career. Here’s how to bring storytelling into your work.
Create a Model
The first step is to create a model for you and your team to follow so you can all learn how to become better storytellers. Think about who the audience is and what the goals are. What will interest and engage them? Then, think about the story itself. How can you make the story compelling? Share examples and best practices and work together to align yourselves around the basics of what makes good storytelling.
https://firstround.com/review/good-leaders-are-great-storytellers-our-6-tips-for-telling-stories-that-resonate/
Practice
Have your team practice storytelling until you’re confident you have a compelling story that resonates with your target audience, adjusting the story along the way. You need a story that is clear and to the point. No one wants to hear a pitch that seems never ending and rambling. Ask for feedback from people you trust to get a feel for whether your presentation is concise enough and easy to follow. Sometimes verbally “painting a visual image” can help in conveying the story.
https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-be-a-better-storyteller-3024850
Tap Emotion
Successful storytelling connects with people on an emotional level. If you can tap into the audience’s emotions, you are far more likely to keep their attention. Tapping into emotion also makes you more persuasive. When telling a story, don’t just list out the facts. Also, discuss how each element of the story made you feel or made others feel. A great storyteller exudes confidence. They can draw on empathy to make their listener feel comfortable and safe and to help them see the possibilities of what your vision has to offer.
Keep it Simple
The best stories are simple. One of the worst things you can do is overwhelm your audience with too many details. Too many details distract the listener and makes it hard for them to identify the important details of the story. It also becomes harder for them to relate to the story because they’re too busy trying to figure out what the main point of the story is.
Teaching your team and your leaders how to become better storytellers can make your company and your opportunities more compelling to prospective clients, colleagues, and candidates. You need a story that is concise and straightforward but also taps into your audience’s emotions and keeps their attention. If you have all the right storytelling elements, you’ll be able to influence your audience and drive action.