Values-Driven Storytelling: Finding Your Authentic Voice
In today's world of surface-level content and quick-hit viral moments, real voices of impact are getting lost in the noise. As a documentary filmmaker, I've witnessed firsthand how the most powerful stories often go untold – not because they lack value, but because we're approaching storytelling all wrong.
The Challenge with Values
Every leader has core values that drive their work. Yet when I sit down with clients for our first Story Strategy session, even the most articulate experts often struggle to name what truly matters to them. Recently, I worked with a renowned relationship expert who, despite teaching values to others for years, found herself pausing when asked to articulate her own.
"I never have... it's strange. I just have to think a minute," she reflected during our first call. This moment of hesitation is surprisingly common, and it reveals something crucial about how we approach our stories.
We're often too close to our own narrative to see it clearly. We focus on what we think we should value instead of uncovering what truly drives us.
A Different Approach to Finding Your Values
Through the Story Mapping process, I've discovered that the key to uncovering authentic values lies not in what we say we value, but in the stories we live every day. Here's a simple exercise to help you start this discovery:
1. Look for Patterns: Think about moments when you made difficult decisions. What principles guided your choices?
2. Find the Friction: Identify times when you felt tension between different priorities. What ultimately won out?
3. Notice Your Energy: What stories do you find yourself telling others again and again? What lights you up when you talk about it?
4. Examine Your Challenges: Sometimes our values become clearest in moments of difficulty. What lines won't you cross, even when it would be easier to do so?
Why This Matters
Your values aren't just words on a wall – they're the foundation of your impact. When you understand what truly drives you, everything else falls into place: your content, your message, your ability to connect with others.
As one client reflected after going through this process: "It's valuable in and of itself... it's just clarifying, it's important."
Moving Beyond Surface Stories
True values-driven storytelling goes beyond the standard mission statement or brand values. It requires:
Honesty: Being willing to examine what really drives your decisions
Vulnerability: Sharing the struggles along with the successes
Consistency: Living your values, not just stating them
Courage: Standing firm in what matters most to you
Creating Lasting Impact
When you build your story from authentic values:
Your content naturally resonates more deeply
Your message becomes clearer and more compelling
Your impact creates lasting change
Your audience connects with who you really are
Taking the Next Step
Your story matters – not just what you do, but why you do it. The world needs your authentic voice. If you're ready to discover and share your true values:
Book a Story mapping session to dive deeper.
Remember: The goal isn't to create another piece of content that gets lost in the noise. It's about sharing your story in a way that creates lasting meaning and genuine connection.
