I learn much from conversations with people who want to tell their stories. You are leaders in your space (To be clear, we are all leaders in our lives, our households, in the work we do.)
You want to be known so you can have a more significant impact.
You want to differentiate yourself from others who do the same.
You want to change the way people think or talk about you.
You want to be better at telling your story.
I believe it’s safe to assume if you are reading this, you fall into one of those categories. Or comment below and tell me what is holding you back.
When we work together, I might hear:
- I can’t tell that story.
- I don’t want to make it about me. It doesn’t feel right – it feels icky. It feels exploitative.
- Some version of: It’s not done that way, and I must be more like what is expected of someone in this role.
If you think I’m writing about you, I’m writing about me, you, and (mostly) everyone.
These are legitimate concerns, so we keep our better stories to ourselves and tell the ones we feel comfortable speaking.
Then, we see someone else doing a version of something we thought about but held back. When I read Susie Herrick and Elle Luna’s Your Story is Your Power, I thought they wrote the book I should have! I thought it when I saw someone post about something I had been feeling, but instead of talking about it, I internalized it as the “wrong feeling” to be experiencing. When I saw someone else share their personal experience, I thought, yes, me too. I have that, too! And then I begin writing about it.
But what if I didn’t wait for the invitation to tell my story?
And what if you didn’t?
I always used to wait for invitations: Invitations to speak at a meeting. “Lisa, what do you think?” rather than offering what I think when I want, and sometimes the invitation doesn’t come, and I don’t get to share my brilliant thoughts. I lose out because they think I’m the quiet one in the corner. (Actually, no one has ever thought of me as the quiet one in the corner, but maybe they think I don’t have anything to offer.)
They lose out because my ideas are better than I give myself credit for.
I used to wait for invitations from friends to do things instead of initiating them myself. The story I told myself: If they wanted to do something, they would have asked. But then, one day, I sent someone an invitation, and they were SO EXCITED.
That’s when I noticed the pattern. And I stopped waiting for the invitation and gave myself permission.
It starts by changing the story you tell yourself.
Like these:
- I say that because it hasn’t been done that way, and someone would have done it if it worked.
- If they wanted to hear from me, they’d ask.
- If it were a good idea, someone else would have thought of it.
These stories keep us inside our comfort boxes and in obscurity.
On the other hand, you could be the one to tell your story, giving others permission to tell theirs. How might that feel?
Your Summer Project: Most of my work is in group settings but I have two openings this summer for one-to-one work to help you get known, get understood, and make an impact. We’ll work together to get clear on your message and develop two key stories you can use to make that happen. By the time fall rolls around, you’ll think differently about how to find and tell stories in your presentations and conversations. Schedule a discovery call now to see if this is a fit for you.
Take care out there.
SOME WAYS I MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU AND YOUR TEAM:
LEAD YOUR WAY: This mentoring/coaching program is designed to help you step into your leadership and show up as your best self so you can communicate to connect and amplify your impact.
COMMUNICATE TO CONNECT: In my storytelling workshops, I teach leaders of all capabilities how to engage authentically with their teams, community, and stakeholders to create meaningful connections that build trust, increase team engagement and lead to better fundraising and revenue generation.
Did you have something else in mind? Let’s talk and see how I might be able to help. Contact me and we’ll schedule a chat.
Stay in touch.
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