02. What is a Story?

0:00 [Vinod] In order to become a storyteller, you first need to understand what a story is. Welcome to the Storytelling at Work Podcast. I'm your host, Vinod Krishna, and here we talk about storytelling, communication, leadership, and more.

0:25 Today, we are talking about something fundamental. What makes a story a story? So, let's first define what a story is. A story is a connected sequence of events. You might think that anything with a beginning, middle, and end in a sequence is a story, but that's not entirely true. It’s about much more than just the sequence of events.

0:51 So, here's a quick exercise: Think of the last story you heard that stuck with you. Why does it linger in your mind? Chances are it wasn't just because of what happened in that sequence of events but also because of the way it was narrated.

1:08 Let's break down the essential elements that make a story. Every story has four elements:

1. A character.
2. A plot with a beginning, middle, and end.
3. A conflict - a challenge or a choice.
4. A message or resolution.

1:31 To understand this better, let me share a story I recently heard in one of my workshops. A campaign manager, let's call her Ananya, was handling a crucial online ad campaign for a demanding client. This was five years ago. While setting the campaign budget, Ananya made a typo. Instead of keying in \$1,000, she added an extra zero and typed \$10,000. The next morning, when she logged in, her heart almost stopped. She had spent ten times the budget overnight.

2:03 The relationship with this client hadn't been smooth lately, and she knew this mistake could very well mean losing the account. She froze, convinced that she would be fired. She even considered submitting her resignation before being fired and thought about offering to repay the loss from her own pocket.

2:31 Prepared to meet her boss, Ananya decided to own up and take responsibility. But when she discussed it with her boss, he listened calmly. Instead of lashing out, he said, "We definitely have a situation here, and we cannot undo what's happened. But let's find a way to salvage the situation. In fact, we’ve got data now that we didn’t have before. Let’s see how we can leverage this."

3:02 Ananya was stunned, feeling an immense sense of relief. As she stepped out of that meeting, she realized a valuable lesson, how leadership is about responding to situations - without crushing someone’s spirit.

3:12 Now, here's why the story works. First, it’s not about a random person. There’s a character, Ananya, who goes through a relatable series of events. We've all been there, feeling the pressure after making a mistake and fearing the consequences.

3:31 Next is the plot: a clear beginning, a mistake that could cost her job. Then the buildup, her fear and anxiety about her boss’s reaction, and the regret over her oversight. Finally, the resolution, the boss’s decision to turn the situation into a learning opportunity.

3:54 The conflict here is not just the financial loss, it’s the tension between taking responsibility and fearing the outcome. Conflict makes us empathize and connect with the character, even if it’s just momentarily.

4:09 And finally, the message, it’s about staying calm in a pressure situation and choosing to respond in a way that turns failure into a valuable lesson.

4:21 Imagine instead of telling the story, Ananya had just said, "Making mistakes at work can feel overwhelming, but having a leader who allows room for learning and growth makes all the difference." It doesn’t feel the same, right? The elements of character, plot, conflict, and message are what make the story memorable.

4:50 Stories work because they make us feel what the character is going through. They don’t just string facts together; they create a journey. So, how do you put this to use in your business conversations where you intend to use a story?

5:02 First, think of the message you want to convey through the story, That's the purpose. Then, check if the story is apt for that message. Next, determine the character. Who is central to the story? Then come to the conflict. What is the challenge or change in the story? Finally, think about the plot. How will you begin the story, how will it progress, and how will it end? In short, how will you tell the story so that it unfolds in a way that holds the audience's attention?

5:37 Go ahead and try this out! Thanks for tuning in to Storytelling at Work. If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe and share it with someone who could use a bit of storytelling magic. As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions or storytelling challenges at work. I’d love to hear from you.