The Story Toolbox - Issue #4
Welcome back to The Story Toolbox, your regular dose of storytelling inspiration! Every two weeks, I’ll share practical steps to help you become a better storyteller.
In each issue, I’ll give you a question or prompt to make you reflect on what you know, getting you to brainstorm and explore what stories you want to tell. Then, we’ll highlight a great talk, article or story that stands out for you to learn from. And finally, you‘ll get one resource recommendation to check out to improve your storytelling skills.
Reflect: Find your stories
Your prompt for this week:
Think about a recent article, blog post, or talk that made you pause and think. What’s your take on that topic?
Your exercise: Spend a few minutes reflecting on it. Jot down the thoughts that came up for you. Do you agree or disagree? What was missing from that article? What did you wish it had included?
What would you add to the conversation? What’s your perspective, experience, or story on this topic?
The things that stick with us often do so for a reason. They prompt us to reflect on our own work, encourage us to think about new ideas, challenge our assumptions, and help shape our beliefs. That’s the perfect starting point for a story of your own.
Learn: Stories to inspire you
Story spotlight of the week: Technical Leadership and Glue Work from Tanya Reilly
This talk is a must-watch for anyone in or aspiring to a technical leadership role. Tanya Reilly introduces the concept of glue work: the often invisible but critical tasks that hold teams together, like reviewing PRs, unblocking people, writing documentation, and coordinating work.
What makes this talk great is how clearly and accessibly Tanya explains a pattern that so many engineers recognise but rarely have language for. She uses simple visuals, clear examples, and a steady, thoughtful delivery that gives the audience time to reflect.
What to notice:
- The core concept is memorable and repeatable: glue work gives people a way to name something they’ve seen but couldn’t describe.
- She grounds the idea in everyday experiences and stories, which makes it easy to relate to and apply.
- She gently challenges the audience to think differently about how we value and reward work on teams.
Your challenge: Watch the talk and reflect on it. How does she keep you hooked? What techniques could you try in your own storytelling?
Improve: Upgrade your story skills
Recommendation of the week: Speak 10x Clearer: Do The 3 Vocal Exercises Every Day from Vinh Giang
Vinh Giang is a communication coach and and his delivery shows it. In this short video, he shares three practical vocal exercises to help you speak with more clarity and presence. They’re simple, repeatable, and make a noticeable difference even after just a few tries.
If you’ve ever been told you mumble, loose your voice when trying to speak louder, or rush through your ideas, this one’s for you.
(If you struggle with doing the lip trills just like that, place your fingers one the side of your cheeks and squeeze gently. Over time it will get easier and you'll be able to do them without the extra support.)
Your homework: Pick one of the exercises and try it every day this week. Pay attention to how your voice feels and sounds after a few days, especially when you're on video calls or speaking up in meetings.
Want a bonus challenge? Record yourself reading a short paragraph before and after five days of practice.
Feel free to reply to this email or leave a comment on the post with how you get on with the exercises, challenge or homework. I'd love to hear what your responses are!
That’s all for this week! Reflect, learn, and improve: your story is waiting to be told, and I’m here to help you tell it. See you next time for more storytelling inspiration.
Until then, happy story hunting!
Melinda
