I recently delivered a chapter talk on the silver screen techniques on project management with the PMI MassBay chapter on Mar 27, 2024. I synthesized how script writers and story writers master the art of telling stories in every movie or the popular TV episodes. After the chapter talk and the LinkedIn post, I had about two people reach out asking if story telling techniques are relevant in the daily walk of a project manager. These people were not in my talk, but I thought I would synthesize the essential story telling techniques.
In my book on Organized Common Sense, I mention that any communication is all about making sure that the other person understands what is expected of them because of what was communicated! Essentially, this expectation further expands to persuasive, informative, and exploratory communication.
- Discussions on why starting or terminating a project is necessary, investing money or cutting back on resources, and motivating people to the same leveled plane to see or do things differently requires persuasive communication with the right level of stakeholders with the decision authority.
- Reporting on updates on progress and reviewing steps necessary to address risks or bring troubled projects back on track could involve a combination of transactional or transformational communication primarily focused on informing the right level of stakeholders with the right level of information at the right agreed timeframe using the right channel.
- Continuous evaluation of new ideas based on the product lifecycle stages or experimentation of new strategies to realize competitive advantages (e.g.: CAGE or VRIO frameworks) may involve exploratory communication with the right level of stakeholders so that the required resources (time, money, people, and other non-human resources) may be allocated.
- Hero's Journey: This is a popular technique where the context is identified in greater detail first. Then, a potential interest is created why such a problem needs to be addressed without giving details behind the solution. How a "Hero" navigates through the challenges forms the story.
- Mountain. This approach builds the tension (problem) and the related connection (solution). Most TV shows follow this. Almost like Hero’s Journey except that there are no happy endings always just like how experiments do not always give the intended results.
- Nested Stories – It is like someone narrating a story from one person’s point of view! May have some lessons but may miss lessons. (Like Forest Gump)
- Spark Lines – Arousing interest on a topic comparing with reality (Biopics; I have a dream - MLK), Winston Churchill's we will fight … we will never surrender, Ahimsa and non-violence by Gandhi)
- Media Hype – Immediate attention needed, like elevator speech, 3 bullet points, 5 things to do before the next meeting, etc. “Always Be Closing” (Glengarry Glen Ross) sales pitch!
- Divergence & Convergence – How to brainstorm for alternatives (all risky ideas welcome) and how to narrow it down because of constraints and limitations!
- False Start – “I am successful because of my repeated failures” motto! If I can do it, anybody can do it! Helps with motivation, inspiration, etc.
- Debate and Dialog - Expert Panel, Petal Structure, Pomodoro – Examples of getting multiple views – agreeable or disagreeable
