Power of a Personal Story

PERSONAL STORIES ARE ONE OF THE GREATEST ADVOCACY TOOLS, AND EVERYONE HAS THEM! THEY HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE REAL-LIFE IMPACT POLICY WILL HAVE. THEY CAN MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTION ON AN ISSUE YOU’RE ADVOCATING ON AND WORK TOWARD CHANGE.

Introduction: Introduce yourself and any relevant identities or information about yourself.
Challenge: Describe a challenge faced.
Solution: Illustrate a solution or proposed solution to the challenge - the change you want to see made.
Impact: What will be the impact of the solutions

STORIES HUMANIZE POLICY.

How do you tell a personal story effectively? Tell a solutions- focused story. Introduce yourself in a way that establishes relevance or credibility. Discuss the issue, or challenge, then focus on the desired change, or solution. Focusing only on the challenge leaves the audience without a course of action toward change. Illustrate what the impact of the solution will be. The impact is a motivator, and serves as a vision or goal to work toward.

PERSONALIZED ADVOCACY MESSAGE

An effective advocacy message appeals to both the head and the heart and concludes with a specific ask. Your personal story appeals to the heart. Appeal to the head by supplementing factual information. Conclude with a clear and specific ask - what do you want people to do?

Personal story
Factual information
Specific ask