Story Telling

Padmaashree Radhaswamy
Ted Talk by Dr. Meenakshi Chaudhary
 Elements of Story Telling
• Setting
• Characters
• Plot
• Conflict
• Theme
• Narrative Arc
 Setting
• Specific – date, time. Location....
• Broad and descriptive
 Focus on the unsual, powerful imagery
 Characters
• Central characters
• Protagonist
• Antagonist

 Physical attributes and personality traits

 Plot
• Sequence of events that connect audience to
protagonist and his goal
 Beginning, middle and end,
 Keep suspense
 Conflict
• Challenges and how they are overcome
 Theme
• Major theme – intertwines the entire story
• Minor theme - subtle
 Narrative Arc
• Set up – the place of the protagonist before
challenge begins
• Rising tension – the series of events that are
overcome by protagonist
• Climax – point of highest tension and the
major turning point for the protagonist( most
exciting point before the resolution)
• Resolution – conflcit conclusion
Google ad video
 Ingredients of a good story
• Business story telling has to be on facts
• Wrapped in context
• Delivered with emotion
• Link current and future story
• Don’t narrate the ordinary, narrate the
extraordinary
• Share stories of values practiced
 Listeners recall stories through title and charcters
 Ingredients of a good story
• The power of “ ….and then” in stories
• Brains like brilliant and new – unique. Bill
gates (poop water and mosquitoes)
• Know your stuff – The Jew wine seller –
Youtube channel
 Ingredients of a good story
• Relatable and believable
• Unexpected and unique
• Analogies – ADHD- new ideas all the time like
popcorn, Ferrari analogy.
• Personal stories – Milinda Gates on vaccination
in Africa
• Triggering emotions – family members/bryan
Stevenson( Indian context – Mother sentiment)
Bryan Stevenson video
Jugaadu Kamlesh
 Why stories?

• Connect/capture attention
• Engage and transform thinking
• Gain insight by cutting through confusion
• Inspire – gripping tale increases neural activity
• Harness businesses
Story telling in a data driven world
• Identify key facts and critical elements of the story
• Identify tags for the story
• Brain connects raw experience to a story – data ,
information, logic or analysis, brain doesnt directly
work on them
• Choosing an effective visual - infographics
• Eliminate clutter
• Draw attention where required
• Narrate a story – simple & authentic
 Brands and the power of story telling
• 2013 google ad
• Neurological basis – vivid captivating stories
light up different centers in the brain
• Stories/strong narratives establish shift in
behavioral norms
• Release of cortisol when anxious– helps in focus
• Story telling – find human problems and solve
them.
Freytag’s
Pyramid
 What clicked?
• Vision matters – a vivid pic of the end
goal/achievement
• Higher purpose – greater energy and
relevance
• Passionate about mission – jose andres –
mission to make the world a better place
through food
 Ameen Haque’s story telling principles

• Speak to people’s emotions

• Build common ground
• The power of contrast
 Stanford Business School
• Engagement
– Use of pause
– Tone of voice
– Hand gestures
– Eye contact
– posture
• Transportation( retain and discard information)
– Building trust
 Stanford Business School
• Audience relevant content
– What is in it for me?
– Story either accepted or rejected.
• Influence
– If story accepted, audience can be influenced.
Beliefs, attitudes