Stories and Narratives The subtle differences between stories and narratives

Oral Public Discourse

Storytelling **

Narratives shape our understanding of the world and reinforce shared identities and values within a society. In contrast, the stories a culture tells about itself and its history reveal what society finds meaningful and aims to pass on to future generations.

Introduction

In many everyday contexts, stories and narratives are the same and are frequently defined identically in dictionaries. Wikipedia, for example, has only a single entry for story and narrative. In other contexts, including Conversational Leadership, story and narrative take on quite different meanings.

What is story?

Simply put, a story is the representation of a series of events. Here is Steve Denning’s definition of a story.

A narrative or story in its broadest sense is anything told or recounted; more narrowly, and more usually, something told or recounted in the form of a causally-linked set of events; account; tale,: the telling of a happening or connected series of happenings, whether true or fictitious.

Credit: Steve Denning

The sentence “Maria is afraid of heights” is simply a statement of fact, not a story. In contrast, “Maria climbed to the top of the lighthouse, her heart pounding with every step. When she finally reached the edge and looked out over the vast ocean, she froze. But then, taking a deep breath, she forced herself to admire the view” is a brief story.

This story describes a sequence of connected events—Maria climbing, confronting her fear, and ultimately overcoming it. Despite its brevity, it has a clear beginning (Maria’s ascent), a middle (her moment of fear), and an end (her triumph), capturing the essence of a story through action and change.

What is Narrative?

Narrative is commonly defined as follows:

A narrative is a story or an account of a series of events or narrative is the description of a series of events, usually in a novel.

Credit: Collins Dictionary

But narrative has another meaning:

A representation of a particular situation or process in such a way as to reflect or conform to an overarching set of aims or values.

Credit: Oxford English Dictionary

Example: “Constructing an expansive environmental narrative enabled activists to find new ways to seek, and sometimes achieve, long-standing political goals.”

Narrative is far bigger and serves a significantly different purpose to story.

A true story may describe a factual, connected series of events, while a narrative provides a way of looking at and interpreting the world.

Stories are self-contained—they have a beginning, a middle, and an end—while narratives are open-ended, with no end or conclusion, and they unfold over time.

In Conversational Leadership, narratives play a crucial role in shaping the context within which conversations occur. They help individuals and groups make sense of complex issues, foster shared understanding, and create spaces for meaningful dialogue and collaboration.

Political Narrative

Political narratives powerfully shape how we understand issues, events, and decisions. They go beyond simple storytelling, using selective facts and emotional appeals to influence perceptions and outcomes. To grasp their impact, it helps to first understand politics and how narratives are used in different contexts.

Political narratives are used by individuals or groups to shape how people perceive issues, with the goal of influencing decisions and their outcomes. These narratives can be misleading or even false, serving unethical purposes. For example, the Nazi regime spread a false narrative portraying Jews as a threat to German society, economy, and culture. This dehumanizing propaganda fueled widespread anti-Semitism, justified discriminatory laws, and ultimately enabled the horrors of the Holocaust.

The Broad Reach of Political Narratives

While politics and political narratives are often associated with the governance of a country, their influence extends far beyond national governments. These terms apply to any context where power, influence, and decision-making are at play. This includes counties, communities, organizations, social groups, and even families.

In organizations, for example, political narratives can shape how leadership decisions are perceived, influence workplace culture, and affect the distribution of resources or opportunities. Within communities, narratives can frame local issues, define group identities, or sway public opinion on social matters. Even in families, subtle narratives can influence dynamics, reinforce roles, or justify certain decisions.

Understanding that political narratives operate at multiple levels helps us recognize their pervasive role in shaping perceptions and outcomes, not just in public life but in the personal and professional spheres we navigate every day.

Understanding the difference between stories and narratives helps us see how they shape our thinking and influence decisions. We can be mindful of the narratives we encounter and the stories we share. By questioning their purpose and impact, we can use them thoughtfully to communicate, connect, and create positive change.

Resources

• Medium: Narrative primer for understanding the power of narrative as the core tool of influence by Paul Cobaugh
• Medium: Narrative Warfare by Paul Cobaugh

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