Distribution of medical and clinical trial data is not what most people would consider to be an enthralling or lively affair.

However, as Hans Rosling demonstrated in his TED Talk on “Global Trends on Health and Economics”, the art of storytelling can transform the most mundane of data into an exciting presentation worthy of going viral.

Image 1: Effect of storytelling on brain activity

Gathering a group of senior managers from across the country’s pharmaceutical sector to discuss stories is far from traditional in China. However, the workshop quickly broke ice as we not only explored the science behind storytelling and its impact on memory retention (illustrated below), but also practiced key storytelling techniques to improve communication and presentation performance when engaging with core stakeholders.

Perhaps we could all take a bit more time to tell a story now and again.

If you want to learn more about how the art of storytelling may be used to enliven your business discussions, contact John Storm, Outlander’s Capability Director at j.storm@outlanderconsulting.com