¿Cómo fomentas la narración y la diversidad en tu equipo?

I always encourage people to "not die with their story untold" A proverb that I constantly throw around is that "Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter" This simple proverb is an insightful reminder into how each perspective is required to get the full picture. Each person's voice matters as they add their own unique perspectives based on personal lived experiences, sometimes you do not realise the privileges you have or lack until you here views different from yours

The most important aspect of storytelling, in my opinion, is experience. At its core, the idea of storytelling is to make complex subjects relatable. By using one’s own experiences, one can help others relate to a product, problem or a service. This is perhaps especially true for technology, where the end user related to the actual use-case, and impact on their lives, rather than the technical elements. It’s much better to tell someone a phone can be used as an internet router, rather than telling them how the chip(s) inside is making that happen.

Incentivar o storytelling e a diversidade na equipe é fundamental para criar um ambiente de trabalho inclusivo e inspirador. Ao compartilhar histórias de desafios e conquistas, abre-se espaço para que os outros também se sintam à vontade para compartilhar. Ser autêntico e vulnerável ajuda a criar um ambiente onde cada voz é valorizada. Esse tipo de ambiente não só enriquece a diversidade de perspectivas, mas também fortalece o vínculo da equipe, permitindo um aprendizado coletivo contínuo.

I taught filmmaking in the deep south, and I would always ask students in my screenwriting course what they disliked most about Hollywood. Without fail, they objected to how southerners were depicted in industry, i.e., dim-witted, inbred, yokels with that notable twang in their voice. While I empathized with their viewpoint, I encouraged them in their own storytelling to remember those feelings of misrepresentation and to be cognizant of correcting such depictions as well as not perpetuating similar stereotypes against other populations. The vast majority understood the assignment and have been better storytellers ever since.

BE CURIOUS! is written on a fading note affixed to my computer. No longer needed (or at least I like to think :-))--it was something relied upon during my early years of leadership. The time when even the most empathic among us can accidentally get focused on outcomes and not focused *enough* on the individuals executing the outcomes. As a marketer/Ethical Storyteller I rely on personal narratives in the work I do. I listen, ask, reflect, clarify: I treat the sharing of stories with me as the honor they are. I do the same with my Team. Beyond simply making time to hear them--Im fully present and engaged. I am fortunate to be part of a diverse global Team and strive daily to ensure each member feels valued for their unique path and story.

Encouraging the art of storytelling within your team is essential. Provide opportunity equally across your teams to allow storytelling to be practiced, shared and engaged with. Create that safe place to express.

There's a special feeling we get when we know, without any iota of doubt, that we're heard, understood, and appreciated. And this feeling can make us go all out to please whoever instigated it in the first place. That's exactly what happens when you listen to your team's story - it becomes a power tool to encourage storytelling and diversity

Absolutely, actively listening to your team's stories is crucial. For instance, during a team meeting, a colleague shared a personal experience of overcoming a significant professional obstacle. Instead of moving on quickly, I asked open-ended questions about their journey, allowing them to elaborate and share valuable insights. This showed them that their story mattered, encouraging others to share their unique perspectives and fostering a culture of open communication and understanding within the team.

Listening is the most important part of communication. Ensure there is a comfortable environment where your team can share anything and everything freely without the fear of being judged. Appreciate them honestly and highlight how including storytelling can help them evolve.

Something all parents of kids with disabilities understand, is the joy of sharing and celebrating every single win. Milestones come in all shapes and sizes. They may not be the typical sitting, crawling, first word milestones but they are just as important and often even more exciting! I celebrate every win with my team. I take a minute to slow down and celebrate them. I celebrate the little things they do, make, achieve or overcome. Sharing our stories doesn't always have to always be about achieving or overcoming something big. The uniqueness of our stories is about those very little things we do, make, achieve or overcome every single day.

Inclusion is key. Inclusion happens when you realize who isn't in the room. That's how you celebrate diverse stories. And cultivate unique storytelling styles & focuses.

Embracing diversity means lifting up our unique experiences and all the stories that have brought us to this moment. None of us will ever be the exact person we are today - we are constantly evolving, learning and growing. By hearing others' stories, we contribute to our own growth while amplifying the voices of others. Our role as leaders is to create brave spaces and containers for the sharing of those stories to happen.

Anecdotes work like magic. Share anecdotes about stories that inspire you and the team. They also travel the fastest. Or invite them over if possible and get them to speak to your team.

Sharing stories and turning them into scenarios is always a cool move! You never know what your audience has been through, and it can add a lot to the conversation and problem-solving.

Stories are told as examples that has happened earlier. Sighting examples or setting the ball rolling are ways that showcases challenges and solutions. Best practices are followed to minimise problems. Creativity & innovation may happen once the knowledge and attitude adds a milestone to handle situation in better ways. When we tell a story, to make it more easy & understandable.. in the process ,peoples engagement and involvement is more. More the merrier...collective intelligence always adds more to the story to broaden your horizon...with clarity.

Using stories to solve problems is the collective wisdom of a team. Stories allow us to connect on a human level. They offer different perspectives and open up possibilities we might not see otherwise. When you frame a problem as a story, you're not just outlining an issue, you're inviting everyone to step into it and explore it from different angles. This approach naturally brings out the diversity in your team because each person has a unique story. With their experiences, backgrounds, and viewpoints, they become valuable assets in finding solutions that are both creative and inclusive. This approach helps people see the bigger picture, and understand the 'why' behind a decision. It's a powerful way to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Absolutely, using storytelling for problem-solving is a powerful approach. For instance, when we faced a complex project deadline, I asked each team member to share a brief story about a time they successfully met a tight deadline. This exercise not only provided creative strategies for managing time effectively but also inspired a collaborative discussion on how we could adapt and implement those ideas. It showcased how leveraging personal stories could drive innovative solutions and make the decision-making process more effective within our team.

Think of stories as mirrors reflecting your journey. Look into them, not to admire your reflection, but to see where you can grow, what path to take next. Stories are your compass, your guides in this grand adventure of life and work.

Every story holds a lesson, whether it’s a triumph or a struggle. By reflecting on the stories shared within your team, you gain insights that can guide future decisions and actions. Embrace these lessons as opportunities for growth and improvement, turning past experiences into powerful tools for shaping a better future.

Humans access learning in many ways yet the easiest of which is thru the art of storytelling. Internally we leverage the power of stories to create a strong company culture and to signpost the diverse lived experiences which make our Team vibrant & unique. The power of internal stories can be leveraged for everything from benchmarking performances to encouraging improvement & maintaining positive momentum. Storytelling is phenomenal as an external facing tool as well. Sales taps into its power through using their data to tell tales and word-weaving to communicate ideas and convey a sense of urgency. From internal community building to external leveraging of the Hero's Journey in sales/marketing --strong storytelling is pivotal to success.

Knowledge is Power ! It's a continuous learning...with knowledge, skills and attitude. Adding value for output, feedback, assessment...and reporting or showcasing as examples.

Emphasize the learning aspect of storytelling. Encourage your team to reflect on the stories shared and the lessons within them. This can be a powerful tool for personal and professional development, as stories often convey complex truths and insights in a relatable and memorable way.

Absolutely, learning from stories is a valuable practice. For instance, after a project completion, we gathered the team to share individual stories about challenges faced and lessons learned. This allowed us to identify patterns and areas for improvement collectively. It was eye-opening to realize the diverse perspectives and approaches that had led to our success. This practice instilled a culture of continuous improvement and a willingness to learn from each other's experiences, fostering growth and innovation within our team.

Feedbacks always help in improving your skills. There may be some things that go unnoticed but when there is a feedback from third person’s perspective, it can help in improvising not only the skills but also building a good content strategy for the future.

Two things to note here. Firstly, practicing storytelling is absolutely free! You can do it any time in the day where you are communicating. A great way to test, learn, smile and repeat! Secondly, feedback, and being continuously open to it, is crucial for improved storytelling. It can come in any form, dependant on your storytelling scenario. Be open to the comments, and reviews. It may give you the chance to change your story there and then, or improve upon the next one.

story telling leaves a morale message each time it touches someone's heart. Listening for immediate feedback is a way to make adjustment, improve delivery or project in clear language which surely is a good way to evaluate and assess story telling skills.

Being open to feedback is the most effective way to grow as a storyteller. There might be blind spots that have been overlooked, and it takes actively seeking out differing points of view to realize those improvement areas. A storyteller’s goal is to tell stories that resonate with your audience, and the best way to be effective is to get feedback from that audience on how well you’re working toward that unique goal.

Embracing feedback and encouraging action: The many benefits of honest communication in the workplace are clear, from setting clearer expectations to inviting more creative ideas and encouraging retention. Storytelling offers a platform for vulnerability and openness, and is a fantastic starting point for more collaborative work. You can optimize that starting point by keeping the stories you tell focused on humility and action, with a mission of not just better understanding your team and clients, but working better together. Next time you want to deliver a story as part of an important project kickoff or pitching an idea to a leader in your organization, always embrace the feedback.

Diverse stories require diverse teams. Full stop. Sure, one can employ 'research, interview, regurgitate' as an approach to storytelling, yet, like the old timey American game of telephone, the end result will be diluted, muddled, and not as powerful as the original story. At its essence, storytelling connects us to humanity and our global world is a rich, layered, and DIVERSE one. It's pivotal our Teams reflect this diversity if our brand, non-profit, (insert your business vertical here), endeavors to tell stories to inspire action and response. Anyone can make a bullet point list of WHYs; gifted storytellers transform this 'list' into a rich, diverse fabric which sparks listeners' emotions and results in momentum toward the desired CTA.

Remember that every story has its own rhythm and pace. As you encourage storytelling and embrace diversity, be mindful of the unique journeys each team member is on. Provide a platform where all stories can be shared and respected, and recognize that inclusivity starts with understanding and valuing the different paths we all take. Nurture this environment, and you'll cultivate a team that is not only diverse but also deeply connected and empowered.

I think the answer is even simpler than all of the recommendations: if you want diverse stories, hire a diverse team. Especially if you’re creating a story that is outside of your own experience and/or culture. Reading about other people’s experience is only second to having someone on the team who has actually lived it.

Not everyone is comfortable sharing openly with an audience, and it's crucial to keep these diverse preferences in mind if you want to encourage your team to tell stories. Providing a framework can be very effective for inexperienced or reluctant public speakers. One way to do this is by giving them a set of questions to answer, which helps structure their storytelling. Additionally, if the objective is to get a more diverse perspective, you should explore various mediums to enable your team to contribute. Apart from public sharing, you could explore writing mediums, anonymous contributions, or sharing in small groups.

This write-up covers almost everything. I truly believe that for others to listen to us, we first need to listen to others, because listening is as important as storytelling. When we keenly listen to people from different walks of life, we get to know about them, their community/ culture. Interacting with interesting people ensures exposure to new perspectives. Ideas are exchanged & knowledge expands. We learn/ unlearn. As a bonus, respect & harmony prevail. Therefore one needs to be a good listener to be a good storyteller. Most importantly be open minded & lead by example. Thus encouraging storytelling & diversity in the team.