This document summarizes a presentation about improving communications through storytelling. The presentation teaches senior management that storytelling is key to engaging people and getting messages across. It provides exercises to help craft narratives and evaluates different ministries' writing. The presentation argues governments should convey a point of view through concrete language and narratives instead of just presenting topics and facts. It shows how structuring information as stories can help audiences feel more engaged.
17. We spend a lot of time in
government….
• speaking to people who aren’t listening;
• writing reports that are never read;
• …..because we haven't engaged people.
18. “Stories are the most powerful delivery tool
for information”.
The best way to unite an idea with an emotion is
by telling a story”.
24. A story about….
• You, a member of your family;
• A famous, unusual experience or person you met;
• An interesting event—
• Illegalities or police investigations.
30. Ian, what the hell does
this have to do with my
job ?
31. The information editing
skills you need…
• allow you to get a point across;
• should be highly valued in complex organizations;
• Without a narrative, no one will hear you.
36. Nancy Duarte—Resonate.
• Every story needs a big idea;
• A unique point of view, rather than generalizations;
• Convey what’s at stake;
• Make people care about your perspective.
pg. 78
37. Point of view versus topic
• Governments write about topics;
• People write with a point-of-view;
• One builds a story, one doesn’t
38. The fate of the oceans is
a topic.
Climate change is killing
sea otters expresses a
point of view.
39. –Nancy Duarte, Resonate, pg. 16
“Stories link one person’s heart to
another. Values, beliefs and
norms become intertwined.”
40. “You can have piles of facts and
still fail to resonate. It’s not the
information itself that’s important,
but the emotional impact of that
information.”
41. –Nancy Duarte: Resonate, pg. 14
“Use plenty of facts, but
accompany them with emotional
appeal.”
62. What am I doing when
I’m telling you a story ?
63. I’m thinking about the
audience….
• think about what they need;
• What’s most relevant to the audience ?
• What context is needed to order choices ?
64. Hypothetically, the
fountain is falling apart:
• What story do we tell ?
• This symbol of our heritage must be saved !
• This symbol of colonial oppression must go !
65. Is it worth…
• Saving ?
• Reinvest in a different monument ?
• What info do you need to make a decision ?
66. Try to anticipate
responses.
• “I’d like to thank the province for getting rid of it.”
• “Thanks for dumping our heritage.”
67. Language and power are
inextricably linked.
• Information drives action;
• Action has to be explained;
• End result, inevitably, is a story we have to tell.
125. Here’s some other
stories…
• Only 5% of US flights have an Air Marshal;
• Since 9/11, there have been no hijackings;
• There have been more arrests of Air Marshals
• than by Air Marshals since 9/11.
137. Why this worked..
• Clearly written, concrete language;
• Well organized;
• Articulates a point of view, with consequences;
• A simple, defining metaphor (car).
140. “If we read every sentence aloud carefully…and
if we then fiddle and adjust our words until they
feel right in the mouth and sound right in the
ear, the resulting sentence will be strong and
clear.”
–Prof. Peter Elbow
141. Questions
• Do you write multiple drafts ?
• Do you read them out loud to someone else ?
148. We had a big idea
• It’s important because—
• This idea came from—
• We talked to these people, and they said—
149. Here’s how our big idea
changed
• We were surprised to discover—
• New information created these new insights—
• Here’s why these insights are valuable—
150. The value proposition
• Our big idea will improve a process/save money/
• make life better for people in the following ways—
151. Rejected opportunity cost
• If we do nothing, here are the consequences—
• Here’s what they are doing on other jurisdictions—