Storytelling in Training: 5 Ways to Make it Better

Did you know that presenting information in story form is 22 times more effective than presenting only facts?

—TIME OUT—

Am I really trying to use a fact to convince you that storytelling is more effective? What a paradox.

Let me start over.

Since the beginning of time, humans have communicated and learned through storytelling. It starts at an early age. In adolescence, our teachers and parents read us books before we even know what all the words mean. We look forward to Saturday morning cartoons and Disney movies. We get excited about Santa Clause and the Tooth Fairy. Stories have always been a part of our lives.

Now, as adults, we are still constantly seeking out stories, whether it's through television, movies, books, podcasts or blog posts. Stories captivate us. It's hard to pull away from them sometimes (Game of Thrones, we're looking at you). Even after it's over, a good story is often still on our mind throughout the day. We often jump into discussions about them to gain new perspectives and share what we learn.

So Why Storytelling?

As Ken Blanchard says,

“Stories are a great way to convey important messages — they inspire and teach at the same time. People forget facts, figures, and theories, but they remember stories.”

Simply put, this is why storytelling leads to learning:

1. We are captivated by stories
2. We remember stories
3. We talk about stories

So, how can you incorporate effective storytelling in your training?

Maybe you're already doing it, but it isn't effective. Maybe you don't know how to get started. Maybe you feel like there's NO WAY to turn onboarding or technical skills training into a story. Regardless of your topic, there is always a way to incorporate storytelling. Here are some tips to help boost your efforts:

1. Add video If you haven't tried incorporating video into your learning program, now's a great time to give it a go! Video in itself is storytelling and is an effective way to captivate your audience.

2. Utilize compelling characters and scenarios
   Give life to your characters by creating a problem that needs to be solved and build the story around that.

3. Hire talented actors and voice over artists
   I think it goes without saying that in order to create compelling stories, we must USE GOOD TALENT. Though Dave in accounting may have a nice voice, it doesn't make him an actor.

4. Keep it relevant
   Whatever you do, always keep the end goal in mind. If certain details are not relevant to your audience, then there's no need to build a story around it. Otherwise, learners will feel like it's a waste of time. Stay focused.

5. Get Help!
   You don't have to do this alone. There are many qualified companies that specialize in results driven training that can guide you and deliver the results you want.

If you have more questions about storytelling or you're still feeling lost, let us know! Click on the Contact Us button above, fill out the form and someone from our team will contact you shortly!

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