Communicate your story ins 2023.
Suppose your life to date flashed before your eyes. What would you see? Would your visions include your overcoming a significant challenge? Or you could view a scene where you are achieving something tremendous or learning something exciting.
Reflect on these images until a connecting thread materializes, revealing the contours of your life and leadership. The line will provide markers along your path to leadership.
Congratulations! You have a rough outline for your leadership story.
Why do you need a leadership story? Because the narrative brings your motivations for leading into sharper focus. And, by communicating it, you will inspire others.
Your tale provides momentum for achieving more and enjoying the ride. And here is how you can craft it.
How to Craft Your Engaging Story
Professional writers offer much advice about structuring your story to make it engaging. They talk about story arcs, tone, types of stories, etc.
However, you can create a great leadership story by following a streamlined and simple process, including the following components.
Component 1: Describe the hero.
Every compelling story has a plot with a few consistent elements starting with a hero.
You guessed it. You are the hero of your story.
Describe yourself and your setting as you begin your leadership journey. Where does your story begin? Where were you? What were you thinking? What were your goals?
Perhaps you were merely leading your life without much direction. That's ok. Just say so. Or your goals way back when differ from your current goals. No problem.
Depict yourself the way you were.
Component 2: Tell of an event that sets the story in action.
What event or series of events started you down the path that eventually led you to leadership? The images that came to mind when you imagined your life flashing before your eyes should provide clues.
For example, did a crisis change the way you viewed the world? Possibly you were angry about a grave injustice that came to your attention. Or a fantastic opportunity fell into your lap.
The event may be more mundane, such as growing discontent with how you live. Or, as a student, you discovered the world offered opportunities you hadn't imagined.
Component 3: Describe a problem to solve.
The problem central to your story will connect with the event you described in component 2.
For example, your challenge might stem from the crisis you described. Or the issue could relate to the opportunity you discovered or the injustice you observed.
Component 4: Depict Conflict or Turmoil
In her blog on how to use conflict when writing a story, author K.M. Weiland says that conflict keeps the story moving. However, physical violence or confrontation is not your account's primary source of conflict, most likely.
Think of conflict as obstacles you removed as you progressed towards your goals, no matter how vague.
Conflict is what happens to you that changes your course. Weiland explains that, "There is always an underlying need that keeps humans moving."
For example, describe a time when you faced a significant challenge. Or you came to a fork in the road that required a difficult choice.
Component 5: Describe the resolution.
Satisfying plots describe how the hero removed the obstacles, resolved the conflict, and solved the problem.
For example, explain your decision when you came to the fork in the road. Tell about how you overcame the challenge you faced.
The resolution you portray should connect with your current path to leadership. For example, it should point to how the resolution of your story led you to become the leader you are today.
And what about your dreams for the future? Creating a picture of your vision for moving forward is a powerful way to conclude your story.
An Example: Components of Olivia's Leadership Story
The Hero:
Olivia grew up in a small town in the rural Midwest. Her close-knit community defined her beliefs about herself and the world. She wanted to make a mark on her life. However, her limited experiences outside of her community constrained her vague goals.
The Event:
As she approached her senior year of high school, a student exchange program offered her the opportunity to live with a family in Asia for a few months.
The Problem to Solve:
Her dilemma was that she would need to leave her community where she felt safe and competent. And she would be giving up the many fun events leading up to her high school graduation.
The Conflict:
Her anxiety and fears threatened to overtake her and prevent her from accepting the exchange student offer. She knew she faced a fork in the road. She had to choose to remain in her protected environment where she felt safe or to take the risk of moving out into the broader and more complicated world beyond her community.
She struggled with this decision.
The Resolution:
Finally, she determined that the opportunity to broaden her perspectives was worth the risks and discomfort, and she accepted the offer, although with much apprehension.
This decision changed the course of her life.
She was indeed scared and homesick while she lived in Asia. Yet she also discovered her strengths. And she experienced a culture so unlike her own that she began to expand how she viewed the world and her place in it.
She returned home committed to helping others push through their discomfort, take risks, and find meaning in their lives and work.
She started down a path that is still unfolding as she continues to learn and grow as a leader.
Your leadership story reveals who you are.
Yes, that means you need to swallow your fear of vulnerability. However, great leaders aren't afraid to disclose the details of their journey. Their transparency is a gift to others who, in turn, are more willing to embrace and share their stories.
Remember this: "Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren't always comfortable, but they are never weakness." Brene Brown.
