I’ve been doing rounds of schools with my bag full of Dilemma Tales, an adaptation of West African tradition of tales that invite listeners to test their sense of judgement. These stories typically throw a set of choices or decisions on to the listener. They don’t work in the realm of right or wrong, or black and white. In fact, it is NOT easy to choose a side. These stories thrust your morality, ethics, values & sometimes your humanity to test.
We have our own dilemmas don’t we? Show me a person who doesn’t face dilemmas in their personal, professional or social lives!
Now back to the school, the children surprised me when they sat down to write personal stories based on dilemmas they faced.
“To be kind to a cousin visiting us for a few weeks, or be rude to her?”
“Do I choose friends who I want to be with or play a sport even if it’s against them?”
“When faking an illness, do I fake a stomach ache or a head ache?”
Hmmm…
Now, the last one brought a smile on to my face. It reminded of when I was in school and I faked aches and pains to get the attention of my peers or teachers in school. In my 11th grade, I faked period pains and didn’t get up from the bed because I was scared of taking an Accounts exam. I had a thing about all numerical subjects and I would have none of it. I faked pains, stayed it bed the whole day with a hot water bag.
Now, don’t judge me, you know we have all done that! We have told lies in our childhood to get away from mischief. If you don’t believe me, open up Google and search “Cat Ate My Homework”
It’s human to tell stories…not all of them are true, always. Sometimes, they are anything but the truth.
We tell white lies about ourselves, sometimes to get noticed, or cover up, to get away, to hide, to insensitively damage someone’s reputation, or even to get accepted. Sometimes we tell a lie willingly, knowing well the implications of a false story. Imagine an inciting story, one that shows a reality that is not true. Or a story that manipulates you to behave in a way that is dangerous to someone, an organisation, a community or a country! At other times we do it innocently, not knowing how a story can damage another.
The truth is…Storytelling CAN BECOME a BAD WORD, if you don’t do it right! It is a dangerous tool! And if you have learnt anything from superhero and fantasy films, you will know that a powerful tool in the wrong hands can become fatal!
But YOU, the one reading this, is NOT the one who will manipulate stories. (Or at least, I hope!) You are someone who perhaps wants to discover this superpower and see what it opens up for you! I believe you’re someone who wants to find the storied way into people’s hearts and minds with your authenticity and honesty. I have a feeling that you want to learn how to tell stories that help you grow in life, in your work whether in your career or business.
With a story you can:
- Connect – Communicate – Create Value / Impact / Convince / Influence someone to Engage / Interact / Transact with YOU?
- Lead Teams, Organisations, Businesses and Communities
- Make a Speech or a Presentation that people carry in their hearts forever
- Ace an Interview OR Find your Ideal Candidate
- Onboard New Employees, Build a stellar Organisational Culture or Employer Brand
- Raise funds or make a pitch
- Package, Market & Sell a Product
- Write a Memoir, build a Personal Brand or Create Content!
- Share the Purpose, Progress, Promise or Potential of your product, service or business
- Show Impact, Change and Transformation you and your business make
- Find a way into people’s (children, adults, anyone) hearts and minds, so they come back to you!
The question is…What do you want to do with a Story?
I’d like to believe that you would like to tell the truth. Always. Yet, it’s true that truth is not always easy to tell! For times like this, I always recommend Liz Weir’s version of Truth & Story.
But then what do you know when Falsehood is reigning supreme?
Sometimes you have to say the truth to counter the lies that are around.
How do you tell a story to talk about Ethics, Integrity and Transparency?
Lying is a sensitive topic. No one likes to be called a liar, whether in the classroom, living room, or the boardroom. What if I give you a story that can help you breach an uncomfortable topic more comfortably?
Your’s is NOT the only discomfort that you have to manage. Be prepared to handle some discomfort in your listeners. The trick is how to talk about lying without making anyone feel like you’re pointing a finger at them?
Well, that’s a skill only a storyteller can have! Finding a story to tell is one-half of the journey. Telling it tactfully & engaging listeners to respond is another.
It is evident that humans have relied on stories to discuss matters of truth & falsehood.
If you don’t believe, here are 13 Stories that juxtapose Truth & Lie.
Time for Story Thinking!
How do you sift through Truth & Lies?
