Many successful businesses in the world make use of visual narrative internationally as a leadership tool. Big companies like Berkshire Hathaway, Microsoft, Motorola, Procter & Gamble, World Bank, and NASA are among them. These companies do this in many ways.
Some of them have a high level of a business storyteller whose work is to capture and share their most significant stories. In fact, at Nike, all senior executives are labeled as corporate storytellers.
What Ways Can Visual Narrative Help Leaders to Become More Effective?
The Visual narrative is helpful and functional in far more situations than many leaders know. The 5 most popularly used are perhaps these: setting a goal or vision, inspiring the business, teaching essential lessons, defining values and culture, and explaining what you believe and who you are.
For leaders facing difficulty with visual storytelling should follow these tips:
Concentrate on Meaning and Lesson Learnt
The true meaning of the story lies in looking for meaning at the moment. Most often, visual narrative and the lesson learned become metaphors. A leader does not need to intermingle with employees to have a story about excellent leadership. The story can be about skydiving, playing football, or even traveling as long as the lesson people get from overcoming the hindrance is pertinent to the message.
The story is About Change
A story is about change, and it does not matter if that change is impressed upon us like, for instance, by competitors or our choice like for instance, by making a new line of product. Our lives turn one way or the other at times of choice and change. You need to look for meaning in these times for your story to persuade and influence people of your message.
Use Analogies and Metaphors
A perfectly chosen metaphor can add to the impact of your visual narrative, or replace a story, as there are already whole stories linked to those words in the mind of your audiences, waiting for you to tap into.
The Best Visual Narrative Revolve Around Failures, Disasters, and Mistakes
Usually, the best stories have barriers that need overcoming like missing a flight because of heavy traffic or recovering from low product sales. The failure, disaster, and mistake are what make the story exciting. These give a story apprehension and fill it with feeling and emotion
Show Your Vulnerable Character
Character in films are usually memorable due to factors like we witness them care about people, and we see them do great effort and struggle. By sharing pertinent stories regarding your struggles and how you have helped others, you as a leader provide proof that people can trust you to lead them towards some objective.
Appeal to Emotion
According to Jean Chalopin of Deltec International Group, The Bahamas, “People make a choice primarily based on emotional reasons; then afterward, they rationalize them, so they feel reasonable.” Good leaders discern this intuitively and definitely are not scared to lead with both parts of the brain.
Keep it Concrete and Tangible
To make your visual narrative an effective leadership tool, make sure it is tangible and concrete. You need to keep away from mind-numbing unclear generalities. Keep your visual narrative concrete and specific, and they will be more memorable and engaging.
Integrate a Surprise in Your Story
Surprises do not just get the attention of your audience. They also make the story more unforgettable. Surprises trigger the production of adrenaline in your brain, which heightens the formation of memory.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that visual narrative is an effective leadership tool today. As mentioned, this method is used by managers and executives of big companies. However, make sure you know the technique on how to properly use visual narrative to get the attention of your audience and hoping that this article can help you with that.
Disclaimer: The author of this text, Robin Trehan, has an Undergraduate degree in economics, Masters in international business and finance and MBA in electronic business. Trehan is Senior VP at Deltec International www.deltecbank.com. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this text are solely the views of the author, and not necessarily reflecting the views of Deltec International Group, its subsidiaries and/or employees.
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