Building a Database of Stories

This method helps me recall relevant stories in real-time, almost extemporaneously, to make a point or lighten the mood. Let's dive into how this works and how you can adopt this practice.

Building Your Story Database

The cornerstone of my approach is something I learned from one of my speaking coaches, Roddy Galbraith: keeping a database of stories. It's a simple idea that can bring a ton of value to any leader and speaker. The short version is that you should write down any story you might want to retell in the future. It becomes a reference and archive that you can use and browse in the future.

I use Evernote for this, but you can use any tool that works for you, like Google Sheets or even a simple notebook. Here’s how I organize my story database:

1. Title and Description: Each story has a pseudo title and a brief description, which helps me remember the story’s content.
2. Tagging System: I categorize each story. Is it funny, emotional, a client success, or a famous anecdote? Tags help me quickly find a story that fits the context I need.
3. Source or Type: I note whether the story is personal, involves a client, or is a well-known tale.
4. Potential Points: I'll drop in a few examples of the purpose or point of the story.

What's the Point?

Recalling a story in the moment isn’t about sticking to the exact narrative or point every time. Any story can carry multiple messages, and it’s up to you to decide which one to highlight. For example:

I have a story about my young son misunderstanding the phrase “put to sleep” during a car ride. We were going through a particularly hard season as a family, and he thought his big sister was having a procedure that she wouldn't come back from because we said she would be "put to sleep." Thankfully, the misunderstanding was brief, and we all got a good laugh out of it during the car ride.

Depending on the context of my meeting, speech, etc., I might use this story to illustrate the importance of avoiding jargon, or I might focus on the humor and the need to find laughter in tough times.

Practical Steps

So, how can you put this to practice in your own leadership and/or speaking?

1. Log Regularly: Add new stories to your database as you encounter them. Regularly revisit your list to keep stories fresh in your mind.
2. Know Your Repertoire: Like a musician with a set of songs, become familiar with your stories. The more you engage with them, the easier they will be to recall.
3. Be Flexible: Adapt your stories to the moment. Think of it like improvising in a song or improv act. The core story stays the same, but the point can shift based on your audience and the message you want to convey.

By keeping a database of stories and adopting a flexible mindset, you can enhance your storytelling skills. This approach allows you to connect with your audience more effectively and make your messages more memorable.

I hope you find this technique as helpful as I have.