From my desk in the corporate HR department of an energy generation company, the backdrop was consistent day in and day out – same city view, same cubicle walls, same office chatter.
So, how did I find myself 14 stories up, inside one of my organization’s power plant boilers, decked out in fire-resistant gear and a hard hat? By saying “Sure, why the heck not” to a call for corporate volunteers to help out with boiler inspections during our plant’s shutdown, that’s how!
I was suddenly immersed in confined spaces and fall arrest procedures – terminology I never thought I’d care about. I peppered the shutdown manager with questions about every tiny detail, from gate entry to parking spots. I’d never been to a power plant; my usual turf had a city view and cubicle walls padded for comfort, not safety. And did you know they make steel-toed boots in pink?
Being inside that boiler, I wasn’t just “corporate” from HR anymore to my plant-operations counterparts. Here, the label corporate became a nickname, but with a new twist – it was said with a nod, a kind of respect that comes from sharing the same heat-exchange tube platform. That experience turned into more than just a weekend adventure; it cemented relationships that are still part of my life.
“So, how did I find myself 14 stories up, inside one of my organization’s power plant boilers, decked out in fire-resistant gear and a hard hat?”
Swapping a blazer for fire-resistant (FR) coveralls makes for a great story. I’m betting it’s the part of this article you won’t easily forget.
Why? Because author and speaker Kindra Hall got it right: stories stick.
In career management, we help people make their skills and experiences stand out. That’s where storytelling comes in. It turns qualifications from bullet points into vivid, unforgettable narratives, etching them into people’s minds in a way resumes can’t.
But to coach others in storytelling, you’ve got to have a firm grasp on the skill yourself. Here’s how you can level up your own storytelling skills and better equip those you’re guiding.
Level up your own storytelling skills
Concrete over abstract: Use concrete details rather than abstract concepts to make your stories relatable.
- Instead of “team-building skills,” I recounted the time I found myself inside a boiler on a volunteer weekend, breaking down corporate walls one hello at a time.
- Instead of being “adaptable,” I described the moment I traded my business casual for fire-resistant overalls, willing to bridge the operations-corporate divide.
Twist the tale with ‘but, so’: Borrowed from David Pearl’s book Story, this simple technique involves framing your story with a problem (But) and a solution (So) to introduce conflict and resolution, adding depth to your narrative.
- I was well-accepted in corporate circles but there was a gap between corporate and operations. So, I donned an FR suit and crawled inside a boiler, earning a respect that transcended titles.
- My weeks were usually filled with spreadsheets and office coffee chats but I felt I was in a routine. So, you can imagine the switch-up when I found myself 14 stories high in a boiler, decked out in fire-resistant gear and learning about fall arrest procedures.
Establish a ‘new normal’: Kindra Hall suggests a “Normal, Explosion, New Normal” structure for making your story both memorable and impactful.
- My typical day was surrounded by the hum of office chatter and the click of keyboards in a corporate HR setting (Normal). That all shifted when I donned FR gear and volunteered inside a boiler at a power plant (Explosion). This experience fundamentally changed how I connected with my colleagues and even influenced my career trajectory (New Normal).
Coaching storytelling in others
Besides imparting the skills you’ve now honed, consider these extra pointers to enrich your career coaching sessions:
Lead by example: The best way to teach storytelling is to demonstrate it seamlessly. Your stories shouldn’t need a “Now let me tell you a story” introduction.
- Don’t say, “Let me show you how to tell a story.” Instead, when discussing career goals, you might naturally segue into, “You know, there was a time when my goal was solely climbing the corporate ladder. But that changed when I found myself in a boiler room one weekend …”
Help them find their boiler: Encourage people to identify unique experiences that capture their skills or character in a memorable way. Some questions that might uncover these stories:
- What’s an experience you’ve had that took you completely out of your comfort zone?
- Is there a moment where you felt you really connected with colleagues or fellow students in an unusual setting?
- Can you recall a time when saying “yes” to something unexpected led to a memorable or transformative outcome?
Highlight the everyday hero: Many people think their lives are too “average” to make for an engaging story. Remind them that storytelling is less about the scale of the story and more about the significance or impact it has on them or others.
- What’s a small win that made a big difference?
- Describe a mundane task that had an unexpected outcome.
- Tell me about a time you had an impact on someone’s life, even if it seemed insignificant at the time.
Create a rehearsal space: Offer a secure and supportive environment for verbal practice. People often discover the true power of their story when they hear it aloud for the first time.
- Schedule a mock interview or a casual coffee chat where they can practise telling their story. This low-stakes setting allows for real-time feedback and fine-tuning, boosting the client’s confidence for when it really counts.
Remember, practice makes permanent (because perfect is too boring)! You should hear about the time I upended office politics by nabbing first place in the Mario Kart Challenge, leaving the IT pros in my digital dust. Or that day I paraded down the C-suite corridor clad in a cycling bodysuit and futuristic helmet, drumming up hype for our Corporate Olympics.
Trust me, a sticky story is worth its weight in gold. Happy crafting!
