Foundations of Impactful Storytelling / Webinar Recap

Feb 52 min read

Big thanks to everyone who joined the first webinar in our Navigating Chaos series. We hope you learned something and have a few new ideas to incorporate storytelling into your organization’s communications.

If you missed it - or want a refresher on storytelling - here's the replay. Read on below for highlights and links to resources from our presenters.

A few key takeaways from our conversation

Jill Pollack of StoryStudio Chicago talked listeners through the foundations of good storytelling. Key takeaways from Jill:

Details are crucial for effective storytelling. Rather than using general descriptions or overused words, specific details help create vivid images and emotional connections.
Stories are conversations; they need to involve the audience. People don't want to be talked at - they want to participate.
Scientific evidence supports the power of storytelling. Here’s just one example of “story science” at work.

Jill also provided a framework for developing effective stories. (Check it out at about the 12-minute mark of the recording).

Jennifer Caddick of Buoy 231 Consulting shared practical tips on how to incorporate stories into your organization’s communications. Key takeaways from Jennifer:

Use stories to stay focused on your "North Star" by centering stories around your organizational values. It’s powerful to keep supporters focused on long-term change as political chaos swirls around everyone.
Repeat stories across different channels (social media, email, print) because only a fraction of your communications are read and absorbed. Create a simple story bank - it an be as simple as a Google Doc - for keeping content to pull from in the future.
Be authentic by using natural language and focusing on human connection rather than perfection.
Stories are everywhere.

Tim Frick of Mightybytes shared ideas on how to use digital storytelling as an antidote to rage-bait and to connect with people in meaningful ways. Key takeaways from Tim:

“Enshittificaiton” presents significant challenges for marketers and communicators. In its simplest terms, it means platform decay. At its core, it’s really about profit-seeking at the expense of customers.
Three key challenges underscore the importance of fostering good storytelling techniques alongside responsible marketing and communications practices: content saturation, inbox fatigue, and advertising efficacy.
He shared three ways to improve storytelling in your digital communications:
- Create resilient communication strategies that can adapt quickly
- Focus on nurturing meaningful communities around shared values
- Build organizational agility and inclusion