A while back, we facilitated a strategy workshop for a leadership team at a law firm. We felt confident going in and opened by setting the context with facts and data. We moved through our slides and discussed the urgency for change. Finally, we shifted focus to the team to get ideas and solutions to their problems.
Unfortunately, the workshop fell flat. People were uninspired and disengaged. Senior leaders dominated the conversation, and their ideas lacked creativity. It was not our finest work.
That’s why in our next session, we decided to change things up a bit. Katie opened by sharing a story about the magic she’d experienced working in a team where everyone was truly aligned and clear on purpose. We then asked the leaders to share when they had experienced this team at its best and what had created that magic.
As each person shared their story, the energy in the room began to shift. This time, people leaned in, listened intently, and built on each other’s ideas. The conversation became more engaged, constructive, and focused on practical solutions. By the end, the team had developed a set of tangible actions that everyone was committed to implementing.
Storytelling is a powerful tool for problem-solving and collaboration. By tapping into people’s emotions and lived experiences, it opens up new realms of possibility and inspires commitment to action. And the “magic” we feel in these situations is based on neuroscience.
Our brains have two neural networks that govern two distinct types of thinking: the task-positive network (TPN) and the default mode network (DMN). The TPN is active during strategic, mathematical, logical, and rational thinking, while the DMN is engaged when we think about people, emotions, experiences, and creativity.
These networks are antagonistic. They operate like a seesaw—when one is active, the other is quiet. They are also responsible for emotional states. When we engage the TPN, we tend to be in a more negative, backward-looking state, which can make us less open to creative thinking and new possibilities. But when we activate the DMN, we are in a more positive, forward-looking state, which enhances our ability to think creatively and embrace new ideas.
So, what does all this have to do with creative problem-solving and collaboration? Let’s go back to our first workshop (which we’ll admit was a failure). We started with facts and data, and we assumed this was the best way to frame the context. But science shows that data and facts activate the rational, logical, negative TPN, and reduce activity in the creative, positive DMN. By beginning with logical and rational information—even with the best of intentions—we’re shutting down the cognitive and emotional pathways to people’s most innovative solutions.
So, how can we stay open to new concepts, collaborate, and solve complex problems creatively? How can we reliably and easily create these “magic” meetings?
Storytelling has a remarkable ability to activate the DMN by engaging our creative thinking and putting us in a positive, forward-looking emotional state. By using storytelling to tap into the DMN before presenting data or discussing a problem, we prime our brains to be more open, less defensive, and more receptive to new ideas and possibilities. That sets us up for that “magic” feeling.
Recent research suggests that storytelling may even help us activate multiple networks simultaneously. That’s because it requires both goal-directed thinking (seeking to process the story’s content) and self-referential thinking (relating the story to our personal experiences and emotions). Both of these things can help us overcome the seesaw relationship between these networks.
Storytelling can also bring groups into a state of coherence and synchronicity. Studies have shown that when groups enter this state, their heart rate, heart rate variability, and brain waves synchronize. In this state of synchronicity, they are more effective at problem-solving and collaboration. So, not only does storytelling activate the neural networks that will help us problem-solve creatively as individuals, it also impacts our collective brains.
So, how can we ensure optimal performance from individuals and the team as a whole during those gritty problem-solving meetings? Following these simple steps to unlock the power of storytelling.
Storytelling is a powerful tool for creative problem-solving and collaboration. It allows us to switch our neural networks in an optimal way and reliably tap into that magical flow and synchronicity, even when we’re facing daunting, complex problems.
In today’s world, great team collaboration and problem-solving are no longer just nice-to-have skills—they’re essential. If you start embracing the power of storytelling with your team today, you’ll reap the benefits just that much sooner.
Sally Clarke (she/her) is a former corporate finance lawyer turned stress and burnout expert, speaker and thought leader. She delivers world-class stress management programs and keynotes around the globe and is author of two bestselling books, including “Protect Your Spark: How to Avoid Burnout and Live Authentically.” Sally is co-host of the We are Human Leaders podcast and writes regularly on wellbeing, leadership, and spirituality. More
Katie O’Keeffe (she/her) is co-founder of boutique consultancy Structured Creative, where she helps create resilient leaders, high-performing teams, and thriving organizations. A former elite triathlete and consultant with over 20 years of experience at global firms, she understands firsthand the pressures to perform, the complexity of modern leadership, and the power of deliberate and consistent practice to deliver outstanding results. More
