🔴 The Power of Story: How to inspire action through public narrative

Discover how to use Marshall Ganz’s three-story framework—Self, Us, Now—to create powerful emotional connections, inspire unity, and drive action in your presentations

Marshall Ganz | https://scholar.harvard.edu/marshallganz

This post is part of a wider collection about presenting. Head here for the home piece.

Marshall Ganz’ Self-Us-Now framework is to storytelling what a Swiss Army knife is to tools: simple, elegant, and endlessly useful.¹ His public narrative framework doesn’t just teach you how to tell a story; it teaches you how to move people. Ganz understands that humans are emotional creatures who thrive on connection and purpose—and his three-part structure (The Story of Self-Us-Now) taps into that with remarkable precision.

I’ve chosen to highlight his approach because it works. It’s adaptable, timeless, and, best of all, it’s designed for anyone who wants to inspire action, whether you’re leading a movement or just trying to win over a sceptical room. Let’s unpack it.

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The Story of Self

The Story of Self is where it all begins—a moment to show your audience who you are and why you care. This isn’t about listing your credentials or giving your CV a dramatic reading; it’s about sharing a slice of your life that shaped your values. Vulnerability is your secret weapon here. People trust you when they sense you’re being real, not rehearsed.

Think about a defining moment, a challenge overcome, or a decision that changed your path. The key is to keep it personal, relevant, and concise. But beware: too much self-indulgence, and you risk sounding like you’re auditioning for a reality TV confessional. Tie your story to the values or message you want your audience to embrace—because it’s not just about you, it’s about why you are the right person to guide them.

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The Story of Us

Here’s where you step out of the spotlight and shine it on the collective. The Story of Us is about connection—what we share, what binds us together, and why we care about the same things. This story turns “me” into “we,” building unity and a sense of belonging around shared values or struggles.

Think about a common challenge or triumph that your audience will recognise. Use language that makes them feel part of something bigger—words like “we,” “our,” and “us” go a long way here. But tread carefully: if you assume too much about your audience, if you generalise too much, you’ll risk alienating the very people you’re trying to connect with. The magic lies in being inclusive yet specific enough to make them feel seen.

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The Story of Now

The Story of Now is where it all comes together. Why does this moment matter? What’s at stake? This is your chance to light a fire under your audience and make the stakes impossible to ignore. Urgency isn’t just about raising alarms; it’s about showing that this moment is a turning point—a chance to act that won’t come again.

But urgency without direction is just noise. Your call to action needs to be clear, concrete, and doable. What can your audience do today? How will their action make a difference? Frame this moment as critical, but don’t overcomplicate it—clarity inspires action, not confusion.

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Final thoughts

Ganz’s framework isn’t just a way to tell stories—it’s a way to move people. The stories don’t need to be delivered in order, and the most effective examples weave them together seamlessly. But the goal is always the same: to connect, to unite, and to inspire action that matters.

1. Also, he’s made a huge amount of his teaching materials available for people like you to engage with. A good place to start is here: https://commonslibrary.org/public-narrative-curriculum/