Written by In the world of storytelling, we glorify narratives of the extraordinary – epic adventures, heroic feats, and life-altering events that seem to lie outside our everyday existence. However, the true power of storytelling resides in the simplicity of the every day, in the stories of the relatable and familiar. These stories shape our perspectives, influence our behaviours, and connect us on a deeper level. Who is this powerful storyteller? The everyday person.
Let me take you back to my childhood, where my mother, a master of everyday storytelling, told a story that has stuck with me throughout my life. It wasn’t about mythical creatures or far-off lands; it was a story about looking both ways before crossing the road—a mundane piece of advice. Yet, it was a lesson that transcended the ordinary.
My mother anchored this advice with a poignant story from her childhood. She told me about the little boy who lived next door. He was playing ball in the front yard. The ball rolled away, and he darted into the street after it. The consequences were swift and harsh – a collision with a car, a rush to the hospital, and the heartbreaking miss of his birthday party. The message was clear: always look both ways before crossing the road. The ordinary became powerful through the lens of a simple, relatable story.
The strength of everyday storytelling is its ability to resonate with anyone because these stories aren’t about the extraordinary. They are about everyday living. They are about authenticity and familiarity rather than elaborate plots or fantastical settings. But, you might wonder, how do you become a master of everyday storytelling?
The key lies in recognising when and why you need these stories. We often talk about storytelling to elicit empathy in our audience and provide a window into someone else’s life and point of view. Clare Patey the Director of The Empathy Museum in the UK, notes that stories have a unique power to transform our understanding of the world. They provide entry points into different experiences, fostering empathy and connection. So, let’s explore how to harness this power in specific situations, such as healthcare.
Healthcare is an arena where stories can bridge the gap between providers and patients. The Health Foundation in the UK has collaborated with the Empathy Museum to learn how to harness the power of empathy and the importance of first-person storytelling in healthcare settings. Sharing first-person patient stories offers a glimpse into their world, fostering empathy and understanding. This is especially important when understanding patients’ experiences and looking for ways to improve those experiences while in care. As Clare Patey puts it, stories allow us to see the world differently, creating a connection beyond mere words.
Sharing the story of a patient or frontline worker with a board or team can quickly and effectively bring a situation to life and focus discussions around quality improvement and patient experience. A great example is the impact of one patient’s story on The Health Foundation’s blog to improve the whole system flow. Focusing on the story of one patient and their everyday interactions with the healthcare system brought unique insights that can change and improve the systems for thousands of people. The foundation uses storytelling to help communicate powerfully the lessons emerging from some of the projects they fund in the NHS.
But how do you choose the right story for the right situation? Begin by identifying the main message you want to convey. What do you want your audience to understand or take away from your story? For instance, if the goal is to instil the importance of road safety in a child, focus on that core message. In my mother’s case, it was ensuring I understood the life-and-death importance of looking both ways before crossing the road. But she focused on a message I would understand as a five-year-old. The concept of death was not something I was able to understand. But the sadness of missing your own birthday party? That was a crushing blow!
Remember to keep it simple. The most impactful stories are often the most straightforward. Think about your audience – who they are, what appeals to them. For a child, a story about missing a birthday party is far more compelling than a lecture on road safety. Construct your story around your main message; the simpler it is, the more relatable and powerful it is.
Simple stories have a remarkable ability to resonate and endure. In my case, I never questioned the authenticity of the little boy in my mother’s tale. It felt real, and that emotional connection made the lesson stick. The everyday becomes extraordinary through the power of storytelling.
The power of your lived experience is enough to become an everyday storyteller. Stories from your life have the potential to inspire, educate, and connect. Remember, the strength lies in simplicity, relatability, and a clear message. Whether in healthcare, parenting, or any other aspect of life, our everyday stories can shape, influence, and endure – maybe even through the generations, as with the story my mother told me. So, share your stories – you never know whose life you might impact with the magic of the everyday story.
Storytelling Built For Innovation 