A Brief Overview:

• “After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” Philip Pullman.

• Use the 6 steps below to build your future, consciously.

How do you share your story?

Each day, you will tell yourself a story over and over again. And it’s likely the wrong one. Because as Brandon Sanderson states “the purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think but to give you questions to think upon.”You may notice that if you are curious about something and ask a question, sometimes the person looks irritated or surprised at the question because a question gives a person something to think upon. But first, the feeling happens.

How is this relevant to you?

As a leader, storytelling is your superpower – when it’s done right.

1. Consider the story you are telling yourself, how, and when. Remember your brain thrives on ANY information, so make sure it’s accurate.

2. Start with the end in mind. In the same way you engage your teams – you paint the picture and help them to get there. It’s the same for your future. It doesn’t need to be clear but you can think about what it is you want.

3. Be conscious of the road you walk on. If you want to build a better future, you are starting on a journey of change. Ask yourself:

• Why do you want to change?

• What got you here?

• What have you and will you experience, and when?

4. Understand your impact. On your, your family, your peers, your business, your teams. Any change requires motivation – this is it. The impact you want to make.

5. Listen to your story. Change may start with an incident, a cause, or a problem, but it’s vital to create your purpose and vision to build energy – moving from ‘need to’, to ‘want to’.

6. Use metaphors. Metaphors help identify any part of your story, purpose or vision. What metaphor comes to mind?

Here’s a short summary of the questions above: