Lisa Gerber

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When a Single Sentence Could Have Been an Entire Narrative

May 28, 2024 by Lisa Gerber Leave a Comment

When a Single Sentence Could Have Been an Entire Narrative

Sometimes, a meeting could have been an email, and that’s frustrating. It could have saved everyone a lot of time and money.

Efficiency is the name of the game. We’re all striving to optimize our time, our money, and even our words.

Likewise, sometimes, a story could have been one simple sentence. We all know that person who has a story for every scenario – the one we avoid so we don’t land in their storytelling clutches longing for escape.

But sometimes, a simple sentence could have been an entire story.

For example, when Roy Kent responded to a reporter in a press conference in Ted Lasso. Isaac McAdoo had beat up a fan in the stands for berating the players’ poor performance. The media demands an explanation for this unsportsmanlike behavior.

If you don’t mind the F-bombs, take four minutes to watch. While doing so, pay particular attention to the audience and how their demeanor changes as the story progresses.

The fan had yelled a homophobic slur, but not everyone heard that. They only saw the player beat up the fan which was wrong either way.

Coach Kent could have simply said, “None of us know what is going on in each other’s lives,” and then moved to the next question.

But he didn’t because he knew this moment mattered to shift perception. There was a judgment about a team-mate’s behavior, and it would take a story to get them to shift their perception. So he told his story about someone he knew who had something going on in their lives that no one knew about. He brought the sentence to life with an actual scenario.

In less than two minutes, he shifted the energy of the audience. Despite the unacceptable behavior, everyone gets it. They are on Coach Kent’s side. You can see the mood change in the audience as they get it.

Stories are massively powerful.

When looking for your stories, you might ask yourself where something similar has happened in your past. The stories that come from you and your orbit are the stories that make you who you are.

And that’s when a single sentence should be a full story.

I want to help you find your stories and tell them. Interested? I’m running a 90-minute masterclass in July. It’s designed to help you find and tell stories in your next meeting, presentation, or keynote. Comment below, and I’ll send you more details.

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.  


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Filed Under: Blog posts, Communications Tagged With: communications, leadership, storytelling

About Lisa Gerber

Lisa Gerber advises purpose-driven leaders on how to effectively use the power of storytelling and communication to influence action and bring ideas to life. She guides non-profits and individuals through the digital maze of constantly changing tools to build discovery, loyalty, and ultimately help them achieve their own big leaps. If you like what you read, contact us for more or to subscribe.

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