The Importance of Story

In a world overflowing with information – never ending, instant and overwhelming - an ancient art has come full circle. In our modern, corporate world, storytelling is re-emerging as an important method of communicating to others.

Living in a ‘Just the facts’ world, how can this be? We can instantly ‘Google’ information and have instant access to the seemingly hundreds of new studies, facts and figures released daily. How can there be room in our communications for stories? Aren’t stories just a hold-over from our childhood?

Well, which of the following resonates with you more?
The statistic: MADD Canada states that approximately 1500 Canadians are killed by drug and alcohol related crashes each year.

The story: Saturday night, Mary Smith, was killed instantly when her car was struck by a drunk driver while on her way home from the grocery store. She leaves behind to grieve her husband of 9 years, her three small children, her brothers and sister and nieces and nephews, her parents, and her grandmother.

Daniel Pink (A Whole New Mind, 2005) explains. “When facts become so widely available and instantly accessible, each one becomes less valuable. What begins to matter more is the ability to place these facts in context, and to deliver them with emotional impact.”

And the great thing is all of us are story tellers. Even you!

The scrapbooking mother - storyteller. Amateur blogger - storyteller. Updating your Facebook status or ‘tweeting’ can make you a storyteller. As does telling a co-worker about your weekend.

Stories motivate, and inspire. Stories contextualize experiences and transcend boundaries. Stories personalize and create emotional impact. But perhaps most importantly, Stories “are easier to remember – because in many ways, stories are how we remember.”

So, what’s your story?

Heather Breitkreuz