We all know that there is
nothing more effective in getting a point across to children
than to tell a story. As adults, though, we forget to
use stories in making our points and lose one of the most
important communication tools we have. In listening to
someone lese, there is no better test of your understanding of
their ideas than being able to relate what they have said to a
story.
The difference between a
story and more direct ways of making a point is that a story
uses analogy and human experience rather than logic as the
test of ideas. There is ALWAYS more to be said than we
can put into logical statements. If we avoid stories we
also avoid the unexpressible elements of our experience which
others need to know in order to relate to us. By using
stories you show your willingness to let your common humanity
'leak through' to the other person.
