Listening + Caring = Storytelling
Passion creates connection
Two days ago was a double-joy combining my birthday and Father's Day on the same calendar date. It's been some years since June 15th brought both blessings together, and it got me reflecting on another year of life experience, plus another year of (hopefully) being a good parent to our two incredible girls, and how each contributes to and creates a compelling, value-filled story.
For almost three decades my professional passion has been #CorporateStorytelling. But learning what makes a strong and lasting story has taken me far longer to begin figuring out. I still have decades to go on this quest. One thing that's come clear with age is that truly great storytelling requires dedicated listening and genuine care: We tell our best stories when we commit to understanding and valuing the stories of those we hope to connect with.
Commit to a shared story experience
Parenting brings this into special focus. From the day they arrive, our children need us to care for their every need and listen for their every ask. The more we commit to both, the more likely their chances for success in both the short and long terms. I still love listening to my babies (now 21 and 19) and I still love caring for them in any way I can. We share a great story.
Likewise, value-driven communication stems from a deep desire to positively impact others. That goal begins with honest care for our audience and genuine intent to honor and deliver for them in any way we can. These should be the foundational drivers of every great talk, speech, keynote, lecture, or leadership opportunity.
Harvard Business Review reveals that good speaking is measured by the extent of two-way dialogue rather than one-way “speaker versus hearer” interaction. The best conversations are active; People perceive the best listeners to be those who periodically ask questions that promote discovery and insight. Asking a good question tells the speaker that the listener has not only heard what was said, but that they comprehended it well enough to want additional information.
The speaker-parent parallel
What defines a great speaker equally defines a great parent: Do we speak at our audience/child or do we speak with them? Do we prefer interactive mutual participation or a “I talk, you listen” lecture? Do we seek our audience's/child's perspective as an equally important element of our story or do we elevate our voice above theirs?
I've so loved being a father. Our daughters are such extraordinary gifts – an embarrassment of riches as my dear friend David would say – and my best moments with them have been the ones when I listened closest to their stories, and cared for them and their needs with my whole heart.
I've also loved maturing as a communicator. My best moments as a corporate storyteller have been when I truly listened to my audience and their wants, and cared for their success through the value of my content.
Bottom Line
For those who share my quest to become a stronger #CorporateStorytelling leader and respected communicator, I offer you these gifts on my Birthday/Father's Day: Listen more. Care deeply. Ask questions. Be curious. Seek connection. Lift others. Show generosity. Committing to any one effort on this list will improve our story. Commit to several and our stories change the stories of so many others for the better.
