Power of a Personal Story
Personal stories are one of the greatest advocacy tools; everyone has them! Sharing lived experiences helps people understand the real-life impact policy will have. Stories can motivate people to take action on an issue and work toward change.
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.
- 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
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