Elements of Good Storytelling for Affirmative Feedback by Liz Warren

Affirmations are the foundation of the coaching model we use at the SMCC Storytelling Institute. After someone tells a story, we tell them what we liked about the story and what we noticed they did well. The more precise we can be in telling someone what they did well, the more useful the feedback is to them.

Below are some common elements of good storytelling to listen and watch for as someone is telling a story:

Voice:

• The teller’s voice can be heard.
• The teller uses vocal variety – louder and softer at the right times, emotions and attitudes expressed, characters differentiated.
• The teller is conscious of pacing – faster at exciting parts, slower at thoughtful parts.

 Embodying the Story:

• The teller’s facial expressions enhance the story.
• The teller’s gestures and postures enhance the story.
• The teller has a confident physical presence in front of the room.

 Story Structure:

• The story has a strong, clear beginning.
• The story flows smoothly.
• The story has all the elements of a story (5 Ps, Inverted World, Hero’s Journey).
• The end of the story leaves a clear picture and a distinct emotion.

Distinct Characters:

• The characters in the story are distinct.
• Listeners can “see” the primary character.
• The teller incorporates dialogue between characters in the story.

Relating to the Audience:

• The teller makes eye-contact around the room.
• The teller seems comfortable relating the story to the listeners.
• The teller incorporates the audience and their reactions.

 Creativity:

• The teller brings a fresh approach or interpretation to a well-known story.
• The teller has updated a story to connect with a modern audience.
• The teller has added something to the story – poetry, music, audience participation – to make the story more engaging.
• The teller has taken a risk or tried a new technique.

Teller’s Connection to the Story:

• The teller seems to like the story.
• The story is a good fit for the teller and his/her personality.

 Images and the Senses:

• The images in the story are clear - We can see the setting, the colors, and relative sizes.
• The story proceeds like a movie in the listener’s minds.
• The senses are incorporated – smell, taste, touch/temperature, sound.

Research:

• The teller has researched variants of a story, or the facts of a story.
• The teller is familiar with the cultural/historical background and context of the story.
• The teller states the source of the story and his/her connection to it.

Modality:

• The teller is aware of and makes good use of the modality in which they are telling the story – in-person, online, etc.