Emotional Dashboard
What is the Emotional Dashboard story tactic?
Look for strong emotions when you need to find a story. What made you feel that way and what happened next?
Emotions are our dashboard indicators, flashing red if we're being thwarted, glowing nicely if it's all going to plan. We constantly monitor other people's feelings, because emotions can bind our group together or tear it apart. So when you find a strong emotion-yours or someone else's-you know you're onto a good story.
Tip: Use this alongside Abstractions.
How to use the Emotional Dashboard story tactic
Every project is a journey from a to b, from where you are now to where you want to be. When you move closer to your goal, you feel positive emotion. Get knocked back, you feel bad.
1. Which of these emotions have you felt on your project?
2. Write sentences turning each strong emotion into a story moment.
"I felt ... [strong emotion]"
"When I realised ... [change or new ieformation]"
"Because I wanted ... [original goal]"
"And so I... [reaction or lesson learned]"
3. Try the same exercise but from your customer or user's point of view.
- Which of these strong emotions is your user experiencing?
- How is your product helping them get what they wanted?
Tip: use Movie Time to turn a strong emotional moment into a visual story.
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Emotional Dashboard is one of 54 storytelling recipe cards inside the Storyteller Tactics card deck.
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