Wednesday, April 9, 2014

The Power of Storytelling

Great storytelling and great storytellers have the opportunity to rule the world.  We use storytelling to connect to each other on a different level.  When we were young we wanted a story before we went to bed, when we were in school we wanted the teacher to hear ours, and as adults we convene at restaurants, bars, and reunions to revisit the times that made us most happy.  We remember what we want to, and the connection to the positive things that happened to us drive those conversations.  The last minute wide-open jump shot to win the
via www.socialmediatoday.com
game in high school has turned into a fade away, from the corner, over three people, from our knees.  Even revisiting difficult times with your friends often results in how it made you better as a person, or grew as a family or group.  We thrive on storytelling and look for any opportunity to share our perspective.


We want to hear great stories.  We want to invest in great stories.  There is a reason pregame shows before big events conduct mini movies on members of the teams taking part in the contest.  Last weekend was the NCAA Final Four.  The network access to players, coaches, and families was unbelievable.  Superbowl coverage starts 6 hours before kickoff and is watched by ridiculous amounts of people.  We want to hear their story.  We want to connect with them, and those in charge of programming know that this is the way to higher ratings and more exposure.  When an Internet video goes viral, you will often see talk show hosts and news stations lining up to interview the individuals and have them tell their story.  To desire that connection is human and derived by emotion.  We look for the story because we want to connect, and the emotion of the stories gives us that connection.

via www.allposters.co.uk
The greatest stories in the world are real…and many of them are happening in our schools.  In Fall Creek, Wisconsin, we are able to hear over 800 stories everyday in our school.  The melting pot that is our public school system could lend itself to the most incredible stories the world has ever seen.  However, the work that is done in classrooms, hallways, gyms, and auditoriums is often only shared with those who attend.  We hope for our kids to go home and tell the story of school.  We hope our families run into our teachers outside of school to have conversations about what happens in our schools.  We hope a lot, and hope is good, but the power of storytelling can’t be left to hope.  We need to promote the narrative that drives the great stories of kids.

We live in a true attention deficit society.  NBC does not promote Must See TV anymore because must see is on our time.  We are able to watch full seasons of television shows, download radio podcasts, and aggregate the stories from publications that fit our needs…on our time.  Take a look at someone as they check their phone for information.  If something doesn't catch their eye right away, what happens?  Their phone turns into a Roulette wheel and the emphatic scroll begins.  Our stories have to grab the attention of the public and engage them in the wonderful things kids do in our school.  In effect, we are storytelling through 140 characters, an Instagram picture, or a Facebook post.  We are utilizing those spaces to make tell micro stories in an effort to highlight the amazing work of kids.  This also helps us build social capital with our stakeholders and take them along for the ride that is education today.

via http://blous.me/post/73524047104/all-this-technology-is-making-us-antisocial
Essentially, we can feel however we want to about the change in society.  We can feel like the ills of the world are blamed on the idea that we no longer sit at a table and tell stories to those around us.  We can feel as though technology is taking over the world and people don’t engage in meaningful conversations anymore.  The reality is meaningful conversations take place all the time…they just happen in smaller pieces and on our time.  I was on a Voxer conversation this week with 8 people who I consider true friends.  I have only met half of them in person.  Our conversations lasted hours, but in 1 or 2 minute blocks and on our time.  We shared great stories…in a medium that allowed us to connect when we could.  Better or worse, I don’t know.  Different? Absolutely. 

Families in our school want to connect, but they want to do it on a schedule that fits them.  There is nothing wrong with that because at the end of the day it is not about the time of the connection, but whether or not it happens.  We need to look at time as a commodity…one that we can harness, but not control.  Parents and community members will engage in what we do if we give them the opportunity, but do not force the issue of time on them.

A picture, video, post, call, or text all can have a profound impact on emotions.  Great stories find where emotion lives, and deliver something impactful in that area.  The world has, and will, belong to the storytellers.  We have 800 in this school, and all with the desire to have their voice heard.  When they don’t have the medium, we should provide the opportunity.  When we do, everyone has a chance to come along for the ride.  Go Crickets.

9 comments:

  1. What a powerful post, Joe. We live in an our time society and what is convenient for one is inconvenient for another. We must make sure that, as leaders, we are able to find the "convenient time" for as many of our stakeholders as possible. Social media has allowed us to find this "convenient time". We must tell our story because we know it better than anyone else.
    Jay

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    1. Thanks Jay! I appreciate the comment. We do have a great perspective on the story of our school...if we don't tell that to the public, it is on us. Keep inspiring!!

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  2. Joe,
    You are THE MAN! Thank you so much for sharing this post and for reminding me about the importance of telling our story and the many ways we can accomplish that goal. You are an incredible role model and I have learned so much from you and thanks to Voxer, continue to learn from you on a daily basis. Thank you for sharing, inspiring and motivating - you are awesome!
    Tony

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    1. Ha! Thanks Tony...feeling is mutual. Love sharing this message and have really appreciated working with you to shout it out!! Great things to come, my friend!

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  3. Spot on Dr. Sanfelippo!

    Truer words haven't been spoken... "Great stories find where emotion lives, and deliver something impactful in that area. "

    Tapping into human emotions through stories is a tool we don't use enough. I have learned a lot through following you and other EDU leaders, thanks in large part to the sharing of stories. You have pushed me to share the great stories happening at Warner Elementary and I believe this has had a very positive impact on our entire community. Thank you for getting out front and encouraging Storytelling in our schools.

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    1. Thanks Ben! Allowing our families to be part of the narrative is so fun...you are doing such wonderful things at Warner! It has been wonderful to be part of that journey! Have a great weekend...get out on the golf course!

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  4. Joe, brilliant and true. That describes you and your post. I have learned so much from you and continue to use your work as a guide. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, enthusiasm and humor with me on a daily basis. Reaching our families where they are and in their time is so important and I love the way that you have embraced and met that need.

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  5. Joe, love the way you think and write. School-Home Communication these days can be tricky, with busy, over-extended families and schools with competing priorities. Your line, "Families in our school want to connect, but they want to do it on a schedule that fits them" really spoke to me, because we see this all the time. Traditional meetings may be good for some, but not for many. This is one of the many reasons I am using Twitter as a means to connect with people - it's a way for us to "meet FAMILIES where they are".

    Great post!

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  6. As a young teacher, I taught in a Jewish day school. Every morning we had religious services and every Friday the rabbi told a story during services. It was great to watch the rapt attention of the students as the rabbi conveyed ideas worth living by, in his stories. Of course, as a twenty two year old I did not see myself as a good story teller. I was struggling to learn how to teach, dealing with classroom management issues. But, I had the chance to learn from the best. In time, I became a story teller and still enjoy watching the listeners' faces as I tell a story. Stories are a very important part of our world and we learn how to tell stories by listening to others.

    @apasseducation

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