Why There’s Power In Your Story

I know I’ve stated before that it is oh-so important to establish your “why” when competing for a title.

The reason for that “why” is the foundation for how to convince and communicate to the judges your unique reasoning for why they should choose you as the winner.

How you go about explaining your “why,” is what will make or break you. We all know that to have any chance at winning, we need to be memorable, we need to have the judges fall in love with us and the best way to do that is with storytelling.

Science behind storytelling

There is scientific reasoning for why telling a story in your interview is your best bet to get the judges to remember you:

The brains of the person telling a story and listening to it can synchronize, says Uri Hasson from Princeton:

"When the woman spoke English, the volunteers understood her story, and their brains synchronized. When she had activity in her insula, an emotional brain region, the listeners did too. When her frontal cortex lit up, so did theirs. By simply telling a story, the woman could plant ideas, thoughts and emotions into the listeners' brains."

Why stories are important

In a recent article I read, Jennifer Aaker, a marketing professor at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, says that neuroscience studies show that our brains are made to remember stories more so versus data, facts and figures.

“When most people advocate for an idea we think of a compelling argument, a fact or a figure,” she explains in a video on Leanin.org. “But research shows that our brains are not hard-wired to understand logic or retain facts for very long. Our brains are wired to understands and retain stories.”

Aaker offers three reasons why stories are important:

1. Stories shape how people see you. Research shows that stories that other people tell about you influence how they see you, whether they want to hire you, or whether they want to buy something from you. This is important for you as a contestant because you want the judges to see you as the girl for the title!

2. Stories are tools of power. “When you tell a story, people slow down and listen,” says Aaker. “Listening is a form of power as well.” A good story will captivate a judge and lead them to thinking you should be the one to win.

3. Stories persuade and move people to action. They’re a tool to advocate for your idea, your cause, or your company. Or in your case, it’s your tool to capture the crown!

Creating an effective story

I wanted to also include the four questions Aaker says you should ask when crafting your story:

1. Goal. Why you’re telling the story in the first place and what you want the audience to do, think, and feel after they hear the story?
2. Grab Attention. Why the audience would want to listen?
3. Engage: Why the audience cares?
4. Enable Action. Why would the audience want to share the story or co-create it with others?

“Everyone needs a signature story,” says Aaker. “The most powerful signature stories are those that take the audience where you want them to go.”

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