Telling a good story

# Chapter 190

This most significant leadership power of all is telling a good story. Lincoln kept a constantly updated book of great stories. It has been one of my mainstays for all the years I have been in the public-speaking and leadership space. You don’t have to be a public speaker in order to need stories, you need them in your everyday leadership as well. It is how people can see what you are saying, with the same clarity that you see it inside your head. But since people aren’t inside your head, they need a story to have something to grab ahold of, the metaphors needed to understand what is inside your head - your story is what makes the point of it all clear for everyone.

For my 55th birthday Brenda gathered birthday greetings from many people in our past into a video montage. It was surprising how many of those friends recalled a story that they had heard from me which was our original bonding moment, the point where they connected with me, the story was what created the energy between us and their awareness of what they could be and do and accomplish with their lives came alive at that story which made it all seem possible in their minds. The power of story is what brought us together.

“It’s gonna really hurt” said my grandpa, my uncle Adam and I ignored him. “No I mean its really gonna hurt, so stop that right now” grandpa said more strongly, as Adam and I continued to try and stick the screwdriver into the electrical outlet. We were eight years old and ready to pay the stupid tax when Adam, the metal screwdriver, and the electricity finally made a complete circuit. The sparks were flying and …”

This story from my childhood captures everyone’s attention. And raises so many questions!!! Enough said.