1029: How to Tell Stories that Inspire and Influence with Anjali Sharma
Feb 3, 2025
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Anjali Sharma, Managing Director of Narrative: The Business of Stories, shares her expertise in crafting impactful narratives for organizations. She discusses why remarkable storytelling isn’t the ultimate goal, emphasizing relevance and audience connection instead. Anjali reveals the difference between inspiring and influencing stories, advocating for a journalistic approach. She also highlights the importance of consistent practice, showing how effortless storytelling can drive engagement and change in the workplace.
Effective storytelling should drive action by resonating with the audience's experiences rather than merely showcasing the storyteller's skills.
Distinguishing whether to inspire or influence shapes the narrative, affecting how the message should be tailored for maximum impact.
Deep dives
The True Purpose of Storytelling
Effective storytelling is not about impressing an audience with dazzling narratives but rather about inspiring them to take action based on relevant insights. Compliments on storytelling skills can often indicate that the focus was on the storyteller's style instead of the message conveyed. Anjali Sharma emphasizes that what listeners should walk away with is the clarity of a relevant point, driving them to act in alignment with that message. The goal is resonance—the shared understanding that speaks to common experiences—rather than mere applause for the entertainer.
Targeting the Right Audience
A critical aspect in crafting impactful stories is hyper-targeting them to the specific audience being addressed. Anjali notes that stories must connect with the audience's daily experiences to resonate effectively; generic tales often fall flat. She highlights an example contrasting a broad story about challenging the status quo with a more personal narrative about an individual, which strikes a chord more powerfully with the audience. This alignment not only captures attention but also breeds motivation to act on the lesson illustrated.
Inspiration vs. Influence
Determining whether the aim is to inspire or influence is crucial in shaping a narrative. A message meant to inspire an individual should nudge them toward adopting a new identity, such as aspiring to become a 'supervisor of robots' in a modern workplace. Conversely, a story intended to influence often hinges on broader themes like efficiency, reputation, or financial gain, commonly encompassing collective action. By understanding this distinction, people can tailor their messaging effectively to drive the desired outcomes.
The Importance of Journalistic Storytelling
A journalistic approach to storytelling in corporate settings enhances the relevance and impact of the message conveyed. This entails engaging with the audience and grounding the narrative in workplace realities that reflect shared challenges. By finding stories at the ground level, the speaker demonstrates due diligence, ensuring that the narrative resonates through relatable experiences. Anjali recommends focusing on high-frequency scenarios, as those that reflect common struggles are more likely to provoke resonance and inspire action instead of simply eliciting applause.
Anjali Sharma is the Managing Director of Narrative: The Business of Stories. Anjali works with private and government organisations to determine what their individual and unique business challenges are, and by incorporating Story Skills, she crafts individualised solutions to help solve those challenges.
Anjali has helped companies to increase Staff Engagement and Performance, increase Client Satisfaction and Sales, define Company Values and effectively Position Brands by embedding Story Skills into their organisations.