Your team is resistant to storytelling methods. How can you engage them in a new presentation style?

1 Understand Reluctance

Resistance to change is a natural human response, especially when it comes to adopting new methods in a professional setting. To engage your team in storytelling as a presentation style, first, seek to understand their reluctance. Are they uncomfortable with the perceived informality of storytelling? Do they fear that it might undermine the seriousness of their message? Or is it simply a lack of familiarity with the technique? By pinpointing the root of their resistance, you can address their concerns directly and demonstrate how storytelling can be tailored to fit different contexts and audiences while still conveying a strong, professional message.

2 Highlight Benefits

Once you understand why your team is hesitant about storytelling, it's time to highlight the benefits of this approach. Explain how storytelling can create a more compelling and persuasive presentation by connecting with the audience on an emotional level. Make it clear that storytelling isn't about sacrificing facts for fiction, but rather about framing data within a context that resonates. Show them examples of how stories can help illustrate complex points and make them more digestible for the audience. Emphasizing the value of storytelling in enhancing audience engagement can help shift their perspective.

3 Start Small

To ease your team into storytelling, encourage starting with small, manageable steps. Suggest incorporating a brief anecdote related to the topic at the beginning of their next presentation. This doesn't have to be a personal story; it could be a case study or an example that illustrates a point. The key is to make it relevant and purposeful. By starting small, your team can build confidence in their storytelling abilities and see for themselves how stories can strengthen their presentations without overwhelming them with a complete overhaul from the start.

4 Provide Training

For your team to effectively adopt storytelling, they may need some guidance. Consider providing training sessions that focus on the art of crafting and delivering stories. These sessions can cover narrative structure, character development, and the use of descriptive language to paint a vivid picture. Training can also include exercises in empathy and emotional intelligence, which are crucial for understanding what will resonate with an audience. With the right tools and techniques, your team can learn to weave narratives that complement their message and captivate their listeners.

5 Lead by Example

One of the best ways to encourage your team to use storytelling is to lead by example. In your own presentations, use stories effectively to demonstrate their power. Share your successes and also the challenges you faced while mastering this style. Your experience can provide valuable insights and inspiration. When your team sees you successfully integrating storytelling into your presentations, they may be more inclined to try it themselves, particularly if they witness the positive reactions from the audience.

6 Encourage Feedback

Finally, create an environment where feedback is welcomed and constructive. After presentations, facilitate discussions that allow team members to share their thoughts on what worked and what didn’t. Encourage them to provide specific feedback on storytelling aspects, such as the clarity of the narrative, its relevance to the topic, and its impact on audience engagement. This collaborative approach not only helps refine individual skills but also fosters a team culture that values continuous improvement and innovation in presentation styles.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?