Share Your Vision with One of These Five Types of Stories

2023-07-06 Invite Champions Weekly

As a communicator, you know that the perfect story makes all the difference in sharing your vision. My favorite storyteller on Twitter right now is a researcher named Billy Oppenheimer, who consistently shares great anecdotes to inspire creativity and productivity.

The hard part can be finding the right story. 

Take this morning, as I was thinking about today’s Champion Weekly. I started with a story in mind, but it lacked juice. So I thought to myself, what is another story that I could use? 

Then I realized that this may be a common problem. 

Here are five types of stories to consider, listed from wide to deep. 

For over ten years, I have used this short list. It works for any idea you want to share, be it your work as an author; your speech, curriculum, or sermon; or anything you hope to communicate. When I am thinking about a big idea, I have turned back again and again to this list to help spur creativity. 

Cultural

Cultural stories are perhaps the most familiar form of story. This refers to anything from contemporary life. In fact, culture is nothing more than a shared web of stories. Cultural stories can be fact, like the recent Titanic tragedy, or fiction, like Indiana Jones. They can be humorous like a meme or somber like a campus shooting. Cultural stories are current.

Cultural stories are particularly helpful as a point of connection. When I was young, in the age of three broadcast channels, everyone knew the same stories, such as “Who Shot JR.” In an age of diffused media, cultural stories are more challenging, but they still exist. 

What current cultural story can you use to establish rapport with your audience?

Historical

A type of cultural story. I distinguish them for purposes of audience experience. You tell cultural stories under the assumption that the vast majority of listeners will get the reference. Historical stories require set up. The pay off is a twist on the conventional knowledge and the “wow” factor, when you bring new insight to a well-known figure. The aforementioned Oppenheimer does this well. For another example, I use historical stories to kick off each chapter in my book Greater Things.

What historical tale can you use to set up your idea?

Community

You are already part of one or multiple communities, both embodied and virtual. Perhaps the community is your congregation, your company, or your family. Every community has its own shared stories. Some are the common core of your community’s life—part of the history, they get told over and over. 

When my young adult children gather around the table, the same anecdotes never lose the humorous appeal, such as “white chewbacca” - the time when two of my young children put so much bubble bath in the tub that one stood up and was covered head to toe, a big bubble with eyes.

Good community stories capture shared values. Make sure these core stories get told and retold over time. If it’s been five years, tell them again, so longtime people don’t forget and new people learn.

What core stories encapsulate your community’s values? 

Personal

Don’t be afraid of personal stories. They can be the most powerful kind. Preachers are told to avoid personal stories, or at least the ones where the storyteller is the hero. There is a balance, because preaching isn’t autobiography. But you must communicate what you know, and personal stories create connection and legitimacy.

When I face a particularly difficult family question, I look for stories from my experience to help my spouse and children know that they are not alone. The catch is to avoid making yourself the hero—emphasize what you learned.

What story - something from your experience where you lost but learned - can help communicate your idea?

Biblical

Last and deepest is Scripture. I was once told 85% of Scripture is narrative, though I have no source and have never counted myself. But yea, stories are a big part of the Bible. 

In an age in which people clearly learn through shared experience, there’s an odd tendency in contemporary church life to reduce biblical story or remove it entirely. We have to remind ourselves that story is the basis of faith and primary biblical vehicle for truth. 

What biblical story communicates your vision? In my most recent book Telos, I told the story of Annas and Caiaphas using both Scripture and Roman historical record. It’s one of my favorite parts of the book.

Takeaway: To be a champion is to bring others along with your vision, and a prime way to do that is to use a unique story, well positioned.

2. Championing Invite: Staff Announcement

We are expanding our staff team in our ongoing effort to provide you a better author experience; i.e., to help you tell your story well.

A few changes begin with our new fiscal year, July 1 2023.

Our Content Editor, Lori Wagner, has moved from part time to full time. Those of you who have finished a manuscript know the power of her review and partnership in refining and polishing. She now moves to full time in this capacity, and also will begin to take on a bigger role in acquisitions.

Our marketing team is growing, as well. Team members Gabrielle Kent and Josiah Simons are taking on new roles. Gabrielle is moving from customer service and fulfillment toward a natural giftedness in digital media, and our marketer Josiah is going to specialize in content. To their work, we’ve added two new team members: Katie Martin will handle online marketing, including Facebook launches, and Kristin Cole will handle publicity. 

Last, the fulfillment center position vacated by Gabrielle is being taken over by Michelle Summers. Michelle will not only handle orders and customer service, but is going to look for ways to make our entire operation more efficient.

Drop them a line and say hi!

Len