Telling the team’s story

Telling a Good Story

Every 100-Day Challenge is a unique journey of collaboration, innovation, and persistence. While data proves the results, stories prove the impact. The purpose of this session is to help you, as a Coach, capture the “human heart” of the challenge so that others can be inspired to learn and sustain the work.

By moving beyond “what happened” and focusing on “who made it happen and who it happened to, you create an emotional connection that “Power Over” reports can never achieve. Your final gift to the Team is helping them memorialise their experience in a way that touches hearts and changes minds.

Deep Dive Video

This Storytelling Process Follows a Simple Flow

Identification:

Sketching out “memorable moments” of success or struggle.

Elements of a Good Story:

Building a vivid narrative using the five elements of a great story.

Creation:

Choosing the best format (video, blog, or article) to bring the protagonists to life.

1. Identification

Begin to sketch out the unique stories of this 100-Day Challenge Team.  What are the “memorable moments”  – these could be moments of success or moments of great difficulty?

Every 100-Day Challenge is a unique journey that deserves to be shared. However, a truly inspiring story doesn’t just list “what happened”; it focuses on people.

The Characters: Choose a person to be the focal point of your story. This could be:

  • community beneficiary who experienced a service change.
  • 100-Day Team Member who discovered a new way of working.
  • The Team Leader, the Challenge Strategist, or even yourself as the Coach.

2. Elements of a Great Story

To make your story compelling for a professional adult audience, ensure these five elements are present:
Characters that feel real

Choose a relatable main character—a beneficiary, team member, or strategist. Highlight their desires and fears. Avoid “superheroes”; show their real motivations and backstories.

A journey that matters

Define a clear beginning (the context), middle (the obstacles), and end (how the obstacles were ovecome). Describe the “pivots” the team made when things didn’t go as planned.

A world that comes alive

Paint a full picture of the environment in which the story took place.  Include authentic quotes so the audience can hear the “real voices” of the characters.

A message that touches hearts

Be explicit about the key takeaways. Why is this story important? What lessons emerged that others can use?

Emotions that connect
Share feelings honestly. Use words like “overwhelmed,” “motivated,” or “stressed” to help the audience understand the human experience of the 100-day sprint.

3. Creation - How to Tell Your Story

Show, don't just tell

Instead of saying the team was “tired,” describe the “cups of coffee shared at midnight” or the “tired eyes but determined smiles”.

Make your story flow

The “Battle Rhythm” of Writing: Use different sentence lengths and keep one idea per paragraph to make the story flow.

Use AI tools

AI can help you transform raw data and team updates into a compelling, polished narrative that captures the momentum and impact of your 100-Day Challenge journey.  Try out Google’s Gemini.

Tips for Different Formats

Video stories

Keep it short (3–5 mins). Don’t over-edit; authenticity is more important than high production value. Try a “selfie” format or a recorded conversation between two Team members.

Blog posts

Start with a “hook” (the major result). Use subheadings and include personal reflections from the Coach or Team Leader.

News articles

Focus on key achievements and the broader impact. Link the story to relevant news or policy developments within your community.  Use quotes from team members to highlight elements of the story.

Final Advice

Your story is powerful because it’s real. Don’t worry about being perfect. Share your authentic experience, and people will connect with you. Your story matters. Your 100-Day Challenge made a difference!

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