Stories Gary Kleins insights Power of Stories Researcher

Stories: Gary Klein’s insights Power of Stories Researcher Gary Klein: stories are told & retold because they contain wisdom & are effective teaching tools Main question to answer: – How do you get people to act on your idea?

Stories Role of Stories • Put knowledge in to a framework that is more lifelike, more true to day-to-day existence • Power is twofold: – Simulation: knowledge about how to act – Inspiration: motivation to act (Both are geared toward generating action)

Stories Simulation • Why mental simulation works? – We can’t imagine events or sequences with evoking same modules of the brain that are evoked in real physical activity Examples • People who imagine words that start with “B” or “P” can’t resist subtle lip movements • People who imagine Eiffel Tower can’t resist moving their eyes upward • When people drink water but imagine it’s lemon juice, the salivate more and vice versa

Stories: Connection Plot Stories that Inspire • The Tale of Jared • The Art of Spotting – Have to consciously look for the right one • What made these inspirations stick? – 3 Basic Plots • The Challenge Plot • The Connection Plot • The Creativity Plot

Stories The Challenge Plot • The key element is that the obstacles seem daunting to the protagonist – They inspire us to act • Inspiring even when they’re much less dramatic and historical than these examples – Example stories: David and Goliath, Jared from Subway, The Alamo, The American Revolution

Stories: The Connection Plot • Is about people who develop a relationship that bridges a gapracial, class, ethnic, religious, demographic, • Inspire in social ways – Make us want to help others, tolerant of others, work with others, and love others Example stories: Parable of the Good Samaritan

Stories The Creative Plot • Involves making a mental breakthrough • Solving long standing puzzle or attacking problem in a innovative way • Make us want to do something different – experiment with new approaches • The Mac. Gyver Plot

Stories • Importance of Plots – To target a specific audience • Telling stories focus people on potential solutions – Stories with visible goals and barriers shifts the audience into a problem solving mode • Almost always defeat the Curse of Knowledge – Almost always concrete – Most have emotional and unexpected elements – Hardest part is making sure they are simple and reflect you core message