Amplify your voice through storytelling
By Dr Aimee-Jane Anderson-O’Connor, Creative Waikato
Waitangi Day at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato
The idea of storytelling can feel intimidating. It can conjure those people who can spin a classic yarn, hit the perfect little detail or punchline at the exact right moment, and have us leaning in for more.
But really, we're telling stories all the time. This can take many different forms, including written and verbal stories, videos, images, and the ways in which we organise spaces and events–in the ways we turn up, and in the manaaki we offer. So, how can we make sure that our storytelling is amplifying the impact of our mahi?
At its core, storytelling is about using your human voice to make a human connection. The key here is leaning into what it is that makes your voice, and your kaupapa, unique. Authenticity and transparency are key.
Storytelling then is a tool you can add to your kete, which can raise awareness of your work, and help other people to understand that they have a part to play–as an advocate, funder, participant or member of the community you are working with.
In the face of multiple and intersecting challenges, the community sector continues to serve people with care, skill and passion. Often, groups working with community are so busy in the physical mahi that storytelling can fall away. And when we are on the ground, doing the work, it is clear to us the importance of the mahi, and many of the positive impacts that it has.
But the more we can share stories about the value of our work, the more we can help people to see behind the scenes, into the many people and wheels that keep the flow of community buzzing. This helps to grow a collective understanding of the value of this work. In order to see real change for our sector, (a change in the funding environment for example) we need to sing our stories as part of a choir.
Challenge:
Revisit that elevator pitch. Look to your vision statement, or your trust deed, or your reporting documents to see how you talk outwardly about the work that you do. How do you talk about it in your team? How would you talk about it if someone completely new to the community sector was joining you?
Bonus level: Strip it right back to the heart of the mahi. How would you describe it to a sparky ten year old?
Then…
Beyond the ‘what’ of the work you do (which in the community sector is so much, and often wearing many different hats!). What is the impact of your work? This is something that everyone wants to hear about, from the public to potential funders and supporters.
How would you cover the real human impact of your work in a few sentences? Is this something that you reflect on for yourself and your team? What is one step you could take to practice sharing the story of your impact both in-house and when you talk to others?
If you would like to have a kōrero, or check out some resources around storytelling and impact, please feel free to get in touch with the Creative Waikato team: hello@creativewaikato.co.nz