The Undervalued Power of the Narrative

A good friend recently came to me seeking advice for an upcoming speech he was going to give.  I only had time to provide a few general suggestions, but after listing these tips, I came to an interesting realization: we have underestimated the power of the narrative. 

This realization hinges upon the belief that people learn through stories.  To fully understand this, let’s look back historically before the advent of the printing press.  Prior to this revolutionarily technology (maybe even more significant than the internet), humans relied on the practice of oral tradition to propagate knowledge.  Since there were no means for widespread dissemination of information, the overwhelming majority of people relied on word of mouth to gain knowledge and information.  For most of our history, human conversation has been the primary medium for gaining and sharing knowledge.  

 Now let’s examine human conversation through an evolutionary filter, specifically effective communication.  If there is a goal in human conversation, it is the effective transfer of information.  The variability of perception and limitation of the human brain guarantee that some information and meaning will be lost or augmented during conversation.  More clearly expressed, if someone listens to a 30 minutes speech covering various topics, they will only be able to retain a certain amount of information contained in the speech.  This reality has forced humans to adapt to a communication style that most effectively transfers knowledge.

Enter the narrative; the quintessential device for effective communication human communication.  The formulaic structure of a story allows the human brain to recognize this device and, in turn, maximize the retention of information.  When someone begins a story, we subconsciously begin to look for key elements: introduction/background details, conflict/action, and resolution/conclusion.  Of course, storytelling can be considerably more complex, but these key elements exist in every story.  This understanding allows the narrative to surpass a listener’s short-term memory and find a place in the coveted real estate of the long-term memory. 

A deeper look into the power of the narrative unveils the complexity associated with delivering a story that resonates with an audience.  Looking solely at the sensory components of speech, we can observe that an effective story encompasses the numerous facets including volume, annunciation, cadence, and gesticulation to name a few.  These components take time and practice to properly develop and, as with many processes, efficacy comes through trial-and-error repetition.  The process of becoming a powerful storyteller is both reactive and proactive:  ineffective storytelling antics are modified or removed and effective practices are crystallized and reused. 

While communication mediums continue to change (traditional mail to email; see earlier post “The Great Downfall of Personal Communication”), the significance and structure of the narrative will never change.  Stories are the foundation of human conversation and have an ethos and pathos that is unattainable by anything else.  They are the essence of human interaction. 

Despite this certainty, the narrative is still constantly overlooked and undervalued in our society.  Specifically, the development of the people’s storytelling ability deserves more attention.  As I often do with many things, I initially turn toward education (formal and informal) as an area ripe for the rectification of this key skill. 

The ability to tell good stories is not a natural trait or something that can’t be learned.  Think about the last time someone critiqued your storytelling ability.  Better yet, think about a time when you have told a humorous story that fell flat with your audience.  It might have gone on too long or the audience didn’t recognize the punch line.  The ability to tell stories takes practice and is a skill that can be improved and refined.  By practicing telling stories and actually getting feedback from others, we can not only fast-track our path to effective storytelling but we can also learn new tactics to employ. 

Listening to great storytellers reminds me how powerful the narrative can be.  There is almost no better feeling than connecting with another through a story.  Conversely, poor storytelling will create obstacles for basic communication with others. There is nothing more satisfying than bringing an audience into your story and allowing them to share an experience with you.  A good story can create relationships, strengthen bonds, and build intimacy.  Ultimately, creating a society of effective storytellers will increase our knowledge and understanding of the world.