A group of friends talking in a coffee shop.
Photo by Brooke Cagle/Unsplash
Do you remember participating in Show-and-Tell in elementary school? This is usually one of the most fun and probably most memorable events that students participate in at elementary school. For many, this is the beginning of formal storytelling and knowledge sharing.
To stand out as a problem solver worthy of promotion, it’s not enough to have the right qualifications. You need to demonstrate your ability to deliver results, innovate, lead change, and communicate the actions needed to achieve your solution. But how do you get noticed for these qualities when there’s a sea of ​​talented professionals? Storytelling can be a big plus, when it’s not a tale of woe, but a transformation that others can trust and use.
Storytelling communicates your problem-solving abilities to a wider audience, which in your company’s case could be anyone you work with or want to work with.
Your ability to tell a compelling story about your solutions will make your accomplishments memorable and establish you as a leader worth following. People want to hear good stories, share struggles, and share positive change. Transparency and honesty are key to building trust and influence.
Storytelling for Professional Growth
Use storytelling to make your problem-solving successes memorable and impactful and motivate your teammates. By sharing that your career has not only successes but also failures and lessons learned, you let your team know that you’re not perfect and that everyone can benefit and bounce back stronger.
When you apply these strategies consistently, you’ll naturally position yourself as a leader with the vision, capabilities, and influence you need to get to the next level. In today’s world of in-person, remote, and hybrid workers, it’s important to do more to make your influence undeniable in order to be seen as a problem solver worthy of promotion. These tools will help you do just that.
See the problem as a lesson
When you tell the story of a problem you solved, instead of focusing on the problem itself, emphasize the opportunity the problem presented and how you took advantage of that opportunity in your solution. Use the opportunity as a teaching moment where you can emphasize the importance of your solution. In your story, highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to see possibilities where others see obstacles.
Make informational data relatable so that it doesn’t overwhelm others or come across as bombast. Use storytelling to turn dry data into a compelling narrative. Instead of simply presenting statistics, weave them into a story that explains the impact of your solution on the organization. This approach makes your contribution more relatable and keeps your audience interested in you, rather than turning their back on you or avoiding you.
Inspire, motivate and lead by example
Great leaders inspire and motivate others. Storytelling is a powerful tool to inspire and motivate your team. Remember to lead by example, especially when you share your story, as your team will look to your cues and actions.
Share a story about how your solution solved a problem, empowered your team, boosted morale, or contributed to the company’s mission. By sharing your solution, you position yourself as a leader who drives both results and engagement, while supporting yourself as someone who cares about your employees’ success.
Careful Storytelling
Use storytelling to interest your audience and give them something useful, not to vent your emotions. People will remember how you tell a story. Complaining or whining while telling a story will make people lose interest. People may start to distance themselves from you and avoid you.
When asked in a LinkedIn direct message why she shys away from storytellers, former chief human resources officer Jen Landis responded, “If the speaker’s motivations are selfish or manipulative, they’re not sharing anything of value, or the story is long but doesn’t have a clear message or purpose, then I won’t listen to it.” As a speaker and author, Jen encourages storytellers to have a “clear purpose that is beneficial to the audience.”
Remember your audience. Even though you’re telling your story, it’s not about you.
Career Advancement
Use storytelling to rise up in the company. Don’t keep your knowledge to yourself, share it. If you’re not comfortable with storytelling, start by sharing lessons learned. Sharing lessons learned will make it easier to tell a great story that will help you grow in your career and make your boss see you as someone they can trust to take on a more senior role.
Finally, have fun with storytelling.
