How to Use Storytelling to Gain an Advantage at Work

Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash

People tend to overlook the importance of storytelling at work. Don’t let this happen to you! Stories are a way to communicate with emotion, sentimentality, and humanity. It’s just as important to connect at work as it is in your personal life. If colleagues and clients can relate to you then they are more likely to listen to, and support your ideas. 

So where can strong storytelling show up at work?

If you are giving a presentation, people are more likely to remember information in the form of stories rather than straight data. Stories allow others to engage with you and the information you share. Even if they don’t remember specifics, they’ll walk away remembering your story as we're naturally hard wired for storytelling.

Telling stories is also key to all branding and marketing, including marketing of yourself! They allow you to give people insight into who you are as a person, which builds trust and loyalty. People are more inclined to listen to your pitch and believe you're the right person for the job when they feel like they know you on a personal level. 

To learn more about how to improve your storytelling skills, and ways it can give you a leg up at work and as you progress in your career, check out my conversation with Jeff Gothelf (author of Forever Employable) from November 11th, 2020.