Written by It began with a WhatsApp message from Arne, the creative genius behind the Future Skills Academy, a global learning community. He had an idea: “Let’s run a 30-day storytelling challenge.”
It was a brilliant concept. I got to work, sketching out 30 days of prompts to help people tell a story each day. We launched on September 1st. Each morning, a new prompt would be released, and participants would write and develop their storytelling skills.
On the first day, I posted my story. And… nothing. I went to bed that evening feeling deflated. When I woke up the next morning, the story feed was full. Around the world, people shared their stories overnight. An overflowing treasure trove of voices. Like Scheherazade in the Thousand and One Nights, each night over the 30 days brought a new tale; I sat back and enjoyed.
The challenge has ended, but the learning has just begun. I will share them now with you, dear reader.
We are wired for story. It’s how we process the world, connect emotionally, and evolve our cultures. Our brains release cortisol when we hear stories to focus attention. Oxytocin is released to build empathy. Dopamine is released to make the experience rewarding (Forbes, NeuroLeadership Institute). This connection also happens when reading a short story written by a participant during a storytelling challenge. At the end of the 30 days, I learned about the hopes, dreams, disappointments and goals of each storyteller.
Let’s dive into the structure of the challenge to see how the writing prompts shaped the stories that were shared.
What I Learned Through the Challenge
The 30-Day Storytelling Challenge was structured around a ten-minute writing exercise in response to a prompt. We learned a core component of storytelling each week. The final two days focused on wrapping up the experience of the challenge with some reflective writing.
Week One – Start writing
We focused on getting started, finding structure, and shaking off perfectionism.
Week Two – Character and perspective
Participants explored seven days of seven different characters. One storyteller crafted a fictional world that continued throughout the challenge, adding a new chapter each day to the lives of their characters.
Week Three – Meaning and message
We looked at messaging. What is your story about, and why are you telling it?
Week Four – Write what you know
Inspired by On Writing by Stephen King, we explored how the most powerful stories come from lived experience. Your work, love, dreams, and memories of our childhood selves.
By the end, participants were sharing deeply personal and imaginative stories. They revealed insights about who they are and what drives them, and the sense of connection was incredible.
Storytelling Builds Stronger Teams
Story magic can also be applied in the workplace. Imagine a new team after a restructure, or a company that is inducting its graduate hires. A storytelling challenge builds connection faster than any icebreaker ever could.
When people share their stories:
- Empathy grows when teams understand what motivates and challenges others
- Trust deepens as people reveal something genuine about themselves
- Collaboration improves because teams move beyond job titles to a real human connection
- Creativity flourishes when people feel safe to express ideas and take risks
Storytelling is linked to greater team cohesion and innovation (Fast Company). Research also recognises it as a key factor in effective organisational communication (ScienceDirect).
The Power of Storytelling in Organisations
According to Deborah Soule and Daniel Gray Wilson, in their paper Storytelling in Organisations: The Power and Traps of Using Stories to Share Knowledge (ResearchGate), stories in workplaces serve more than just entertainment. They are effective ways to share complex ideas, culture, and lived experience.
Here are some of the key benefits their research uncovered:
- Share norms and values
Stories transmit an organisation’s culture, beliefs, and expectations across teams and time. They are how people learn “how things are done around here” without needing a handbook. - Develop trust and commitment
When people share personal or emotionally honest stories, they demonstrate vulnerability and authenticity. This fosters trust and strengthens team relationships (ResearchGate). - Convey tacit knowledge
Much of what makes an organisation thrive comes from intuition, lived experience, and contextual understanding. Information that can’t be captured in a manual. Storytelling helps transfer this hidden expertise from one person to another (ResearchGate). - Facilitate unlearning and change
When organisations face change, facts alone rarely shift behaviour. Storytelling helps people reframe assumptions and open their minds to new perspectives (ResearchGate). - Generate emotional connection and “stickiness”
Stories that include conflict, surprise, or transformation evoke emotion — and emotion helps memory stick. This makes lessons more likely to influence future behaviour and decision-making (ResearchGate).
Stories are the lifeblood of organisational learning and human connection.
It Starts and Ends With Story
Workplaces must foster a culture of collaboration and connection. Story is central to moving people from strangers to teammates, from colleagues to collaborators, from new hires to leaders.
If you want stronger teams, more empathy, and better communication, the best place to start is with a story.
More To Come
Due to the impact of this challenge, I’m developing new storytelling challenges for teams with some very special collaborators. They’re not quite ready yet. But if you’d like to be the first to hear, join my newsletter. Can’t wait! The next chapter is coming soon!
Storytelling Built For Innovation 