{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"316: Micro Motivator: The Easiest Way to Tell More Stories at Work","description":"Think you\u2019re bad at storytelling at work? You might just be doing it backwards. In this Micro Motivator, Erin shares the simple storytelling mistake that makes job interviews, presentations, and workplace communication way harder than they need to be. In this episode, you\u2019ll hear: How to find the right story without forcing it Why your best stories can do more heavy lifting than you think How to make storytelling at work feel natural, not painfully rehearsed Book Erin to speak Ready to modernize your culture, liberate your leadership, and differentiate your business without sounding like every other company on LinkedIn? Bring Erin Hatzikostas in to show your team how authenticity can become an actual strategic advantage, not just another corporate buzzword. Book Erin to Speak If you\u2019d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple \u201cplays\u201d to stop selling out and start standing out at https:\/\/bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com\/freebie If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram Take our simple, fun and insightful \u201cWhat\u2019s your workplace superhero name?\u201d quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin\u2019s book, You Do You-ish Throw out half the playbook and start competing in a league of your own. Check out Erin\u2019s book, The 50% Rule. Work with Us Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here To connect with Erin and\/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsuitable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments \u201cPeople don't care how long it takes as long as they're engaged.\u201d \u201cStories aren't selfish.\u201d \u201cI would argue that all stories have branches like a tree, and they have many different points they can make.\u201d \u201cYour life is just a collection of stories. Now, go tell them.\u201d The Easiest Way to Tell More Stories at Work This transcript has been edited for clarity and length. Storytelling at work doesn\u2019t have to feel forced or rehearsed. In this Micro Motivator, Erin shares why stories are so effective in workplace communication, the common mistake people make when trying to find the \u201cright\u201d story, and a simple way to build a story library you can use for job interviews, presentations, meetings, and more. Why We Avoid Telling Stories at Work Erin: Stories are remembered far more effectively than facts and figures. And yes, I realize the irony of starting that statement with a fact. There are a lot of reasons people avoid telling stories at work. Maybe you think you\u2019re not a good storyteller. Maybe you don\u2019t think you have any good stories. But one of the biggest reasons is that people assume stories take too much time. You think, \u201cPeople don\u2019t have time to listen to a long story. It\u2019ll be faster if I just get to the point.\u201d But people generally don\u2019t care how long something takes if they\u2019re engaged. Stories Aren\u2019t Selfish Erin: Stories also aren\u2019t selfish. When you tell a story, the people listening start riding sidecar next to you. If you talk about your brother, they may start thinking about their sister. If you tell a story from high school, they start remembering their own experiences from high school. A story might technically be about you, but the listener naturally connects it to their own life. Storytelling becomes a shared experience. The Storytelling Mistake Most People Make Erin: Here\u2019s the mistake I see people make when they\u2019re preparing for something like a job interview or a big presentation: they start with the scenario and then try to think of a story that fits it. That is hard. Our brains aren\u2019t really wired to work that way. Instead, start by creating a story library. That\u2019s really just a fancy word for a list. It could live in a notebook, on your phone, or even in your head. Start by identifying about 10 stories you know well. Some might be funny stories from your personal life. Others might come from your career. Some might simply be everyday experiences that can become metaphors or analogies. One Story Can Make Many Different Points Erin: Here\u2019s where the magic happens: most stories don\u2019t have only one point. Think of a story like a tree with multiple branches. Maybe you went shopping and had an interesting customer experience. That one experience could become a story about customer service, packaging, positioning, communication, expectations, or dozens of other things. Even something as simple as pulling weeds in your garden could become a metaphor for persistence, solving recurring problems, getting to the root cause, or dealing with something you thought you had already fixed. When you begin with stories you already know, storytelling becomes much easier. You\u2019re not inventing something on the spot. You\u2019re taking an experience you\u2019re comfortable talking about and deciding which point you want it to illustrate. How to Use a Story Library in Job Interviews Erin: Job interviews are a perfect example. Instead of trying to predict every question an interviewer might ask, prepare your top stories from your career. Each story can probably demonstrate several different things depending on how you frame it: leadership, problem-solving, communication, resilience, teamwork, conflict, innovation, or growth. That also helps you sound more natural. You\u2019re telling a story you genuinely know instead of trying to force a rehearsed answer into a question you hoped they would ask. Your life is just a collection of stories. Now go tell them. ","author_name":"b Cause Work Doesn't Have to Suck","author_url":"http:\/\/bauthenticinc.libsyn.com\/website","html":"