From Data to Drama: The Power of Storytelling
Are You Sharing Data or Inspiring Action?
Have you ever felt disconnected in a meeting filled with endless statistics and charts? You might not be the only one.
In fact, our minds respond better to stories than to isolated data. When we hear numbers and statistics, we process information in a limited way... but when we hear a story, our attention lights up! Why is that?
Well, most people believe they make decisions rationally, but the origin of decisions truly lies in our emotions. Data often serves as justification for decisions we’ve already made. In other words: what we feel, our intuition, and our emotions are what drive us to act.
Leading with empathy means understanding that people don't make decisions based solely on data. We all need a story that excites us, seduces us, and drives us to take action. And I have a story for you — with a happy ending.
Combining data and storytelling is an art you can learn. Do you know how?
Identify the key idea: Before preparing the story, pause and decide the most important message you want to share.
Imagine a story: Find an anecdote or real case that illustrates the problem and the benefits of change.
Introduce characters: Share a situation involving a colleague, a customer, or yourself to connect emotionally with your audience.
Present the conflict: What challenges did the character face? What obstacles did they encounter?
Resolve the conflict: Use data to demonstrate the effectiveness of your solution.
Call to action: End by linking the data and story with a clear call to action.
And always remember: a good story should drive us to act.