Yeah, me too.

For years, I’ve struggled with a classic storyteller’s dilemma: how much detail is too much? I love storytelling, especially about my travels, but I’ve often found myself going way too deep into details—describing the exact shade of the sunset, the precise menu at that café in Melbourne, or the full 10-step process of how I almost missed my flight. (Turns out, not everyone needs a play-by-play of my logistical misadventures.)

The result? I lose my audience. Their eyes glaze over, they nod politely, and I know I’ve overwhelmed them with information they didn’t ask for.

A Game-Changer: The Power of Public Narrative

This month, I read about Public Narrative, a storytelling framework that changed the way I communicate. Originally developed by Marshall Ganz, it’s a simple but powerful structure used by leaders, activists, and yes—effective storytellers.

Public Narrative consists of three key elements:

1️⃣ The Story of Self – Why does this matter to me?

2️⃣ The Story of Now – Why does this matter now?

3️⃣ The Story of Us – Why does this matter to you?

When I applied this to describing my Australia trip, something clicked. Instead of bombarding people with details, I focused on: • What this trip meant to me (Story of Self) • What was happening in the moment that made it special (Story of Now) • How they could relate to it, or what insight they could take away (Story of Us)

And suddenly, people were engaged! Conversations flowed, and I wasn’t left with that dreaded feeling of “Oops, I lost them.”

The (Slightly Uncomfortable) Behavior Change

Here’s the tricky part—I had to let go of my love for excessive details. It felt unnatural at first. I worried that if I skipped setting the scene in detail, I’d lose the richness of the story. But I realized something crucial:

A good story isn’t about telling everything. It’s about telling just enough to keep your audience hooked.

So this month’s personal behavior change was this: trim the fluff, keep the heart. And guess what? No one missed the extra details—except me!

Where Leaders Can Use This in Daily Communication

Public Narrative isn’t just for storytelling—it’s a powerful leadership tool that can turn dull speeches into engaging, inspiring moments. Here’s how leaders can apply it:

🔹 Company Town Halls – Instead of overwhelming employees with endless slides of KPIs and updates, a leader can start with a personal challenge or experience (Story of Self), connect it to the company’s current priorities (Story of Now), and then explain how everyone plays a role in achieving success (Story of Us). Example: “I remember when I first joined this company, I struggled with [X challenge]. Today, we’re facing a similar challenge as a team. But together, here’s how we’re going to win…”

🔹 Driving Change Initiatives – When rolling out a big transformation, leaders can use Public Narrative to help employees see the bigger picture. Example: Instead of just announcing “We’re implementing a new system,” try: 1. Story of Self – “I’ve seen how outdated systems create frustration…” 2. Story of Now – “Right now, we have an opportunity to modernize and make our work easier…” 3. Story of Us – “Here’s how each of us can contribute to making this a success…”

🔹 Motivating Teams During Uncertainty – When teams are feeling uncertain or disengaged, storytelling can help leaders reconnect people to purpose. Example: “Years ago, I faced a similar challenge where things felt uncertain. What got me through was [X lesson]. Right now, we have a choice: to see this as a roadblock or an opportunity. And together, I know we can turn this into something great.”

My Challenge to You

If you’re leading a meeting, rolling out a change, or simply telling a story—try the Story of Self, Story of Now, Story of Us method. It creates connection, clarity, and engagement.

I’m committed to practicing this more—what about you? Have you ever had to refine your storytelling? Hit reply and share—I promise I’ll keep my response short this time!

Until next time,

Saby