Andrew
Changing Perspectives
Rutendo Gwatidzo
One of the effective ways for humans to bond is through storytelling.
Hearing someone else’s story creates deeper connections.
Telling your story does not make you a victim.
In most cases, it frees you from the past and empowers you for the future.
An untold story can imprison you as it may bring sadness and agony.
The hardships and joys you experienced can become someone’s hope or may be the answer and guide they are looking for.
Telling your story might be the best thing you can do in life.
I realised that some of the most effective ministries or ventures come from wounds and hurt once suffered.
The harder it may be to tell your story is probably the harder it is for someone to open up to hope.
Someone might open up to hope and a better future the moment you tell your story. Your future may also brighten after giving others hope through your story.
Your story maybe ugly, but if you tell it, it may transform lives positively.
I believe everyone has a story to tell.
That story makes you who you are.
There is someone wishing to be in your position, hence tell your story and inspire them.
Organisational status
Every organisation markets its products and services.
The aim is to increase exposure, market share or growth.
The most effective way of marketing these days is through telling stories, according to many successful global businesses like Apple, Nike, Airbnb and Econet Wireless, just to mention a few.
Marketing is no longer a matter of speaking about your product, you need to tell the story around the product and make customers crave associating with it.
Brand ambassadors should learn to present an organisation’s story in a way that draws attention and desire to associate with the organisation.
My story
When I wrote my first book “Born to Fight”, I wrote about stories of my life – the good and the bad.
Little did I know that these stories were going to provide solutions and hope to many people. The day the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education approved the book for secondary school reading, I could not believe it.
I went to the ministry’s offices to receive the official approval and that is when I realised that my story was positively impacting lives.
I learnt that purposeful storytelling can open doors for you.
Do not let others hold the pen to your story, write it or tell it yourself.
Do not allow one bad chapter in the book of your life to ruin the entire story of your life. Simply learn from that chapter and improve on the next one, then go ahead and tell others about it.
Many people think that the gift of storytelling belongs to old people and authors only, but, in fact, everyone is a storyteller.
According to a report by Forbes Magazine published in March 2021, stories can persuade people in different industries.
Understand the people within your sphere of influence and what they are going through, then share the necessary story. The challenge that others face when they tell their stories is trying to make the story appeal to everyone.
Perhaps what makes us human is our stories. However, each stage of life has stories for the season.
Come to think of it, if you need a place to study at university, you get to tell about your high school achievements.
If you need a job, on top of all your other achievements, you also get to tell about your experience.
If you want to start a relationship with someone, you probably get to tell about the kind of person you are.
I believe that we all require the important skill of telling a true story in an effective way so that those who believe in it can run with it.
Think about it
Good stories can go global in no time.
Be challenged, encouraged and inspired to tell your story and bring hope and solutions to someone’s problems.
I believe that if we all tell our stories we will be providing solutions to many problems that we face.
Remember, the story you tell can be one that you experienced, saw somewhere or imagined.
Your story can be about problems you are facing and it can be a solution for others. Your story may also be about good things you are experiencing and when others hear it, they may apply it in their lives, too.
Either way, you get to tell your story.
Your story does not need to be perfect, just tell it the way it is and you will be surprised at the solutions it brings.
Go ahead and tell your story.
Victor or victim, the choice lies with you.
Rutendo Gwatidzo is a culture and change management strategist, human resources consultant, speaker and author.
Contacts:+263 714 575 805, [email protected], Rutendo Gwatidzo Official on Facebook
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