It’s not just storytelling

Every week, I exercise my storytelling muscles in a live, online story session.

Sometimes, we prepare a story to tell, but mostly we improvise in response to a prompt.

The audience?

A lovely community of story activists from around the world who, like me, believe in the power of story to spark change. And in the importance of honing our craft through regular practice.

We show up to tell, and we’re each other’s listeners too.

We tell personal stories and business stories, stories about everyday events and tales of milestone moments.

Each time, it’s not just about storytellers sharing, but listeners engaging. Truly engaging, with their presence and feedback.

And that got me thinking—not just about storytelling, but about the important role of story listening.

💫 When we actively listen to each other, we don’t just gain new insights, we get inspired and start connecting dots that weren't there before.

💡 We find ideas for our own stories, presentations, and work. If we can’t think of a story straight away, simply listening to the others invariably sparks an idea.

🌍 We tap into the power of collective wisdom, and show up for the storyteller in a way that’s supportive, and wholly present.

I see this all the time in my communications workshops too.

As well as practicing speaking in front of an audience, participants listen to each other’s presentations and stories, and give feedback.

They build on each other's strengths, perspectives, and creativity. And that’s when real growth happens.

So, next time you're listening to a story, are part of a workshop or even a conversation—remember that your role as a listener for others is just as valuable as your role as a speaker.

Because great communicators aren't just great storytellers—they’re great story listeners too.