What’s Your Story
Steve Maloney

John Maxwell reminds us in his book, Everyone Communicates, Few Connect, of the importance of connection. One of the key principles is “Connection goes beyond words.” This principle is supported by Mehrabian’s famous 7-38-55 rule, which highlights the following:

• What we say accounts for only 7% of what is believed.
• The way we say it accounts for 38%.
• What others see accounts for 55%.

For me, the takeaway is: it takes more than just words to connect and influence, especially in leadership. It requires active listening, coaching for development, genuine care for an individual’s goals and aspirations, and mentoring by sharing your experiences in a way that truly supports your team member’s growth. One way to do so in a meaningful way is to share your story.

Recently, I was reminded of the importance of sharing our story.

The first instance took place during MACNY’s Monday staff meeting. Randy Wolken, President and CEO, MACNY, asked the staff to share their favorite question to ask. Mohamed Thiam, Workforce Development Specialist, Partners for Education & Business, Inc. shared his favorite question: “What’s your story?” He explained that this question allows him to move beyond surface-level introductions and truly understand what has shaped a person. It invites people to share the experiences, challenges, influences, and defining moments that don’t appear on a résumé or business card.

Mohamed had asked me that exact question when he first started at MACNY. He was genuinely interested in the experiences that had shaped who I am today. In that conversation, I realized how little our titles reveal. Director of Training may describe what I do, but it says nothing about why I do it, what I’ve learned along the way, or what drives me to grow.

The second scenario that reminded me of the importance of sharing our stories occurred when I was listening to a podcast about sharing your life lessons and storytelling. They emphasized several questions to help you connect with others when sharing your story:

• What problems did I overcome?
• What was my journey like – the good and the bad?
• What do I do and why?
• Who have I helped and how did they benefit?
• What problems have I helped others overcome?
• What life experiences can I say made me into who I am today?

Since returning to MACNY, the importance of sharing our stories has been on my mind as I believe my story has a strong impact on the training programs that I deliver. I’ve seen firsthand how my story can make a real difference in the training programs I deliver. Ten years ago, I focused mostly on sharing content, with just a few personal examples here and there. Now, I focus on sharing my story. Not just my past, but my current journey of growth. This makes the experience more relatable, and I’ve seen the positive impact it has on the people I work with.

With that being said, I want to dedicate a series of this bi-weekly blog to sharing my story. I want to connect more with you and, hopefully, offer something that can help you during your journey. I want you to know who I am, what I aim to do, why I do it, what motivates me, and what has made me who I am today. I will aim to be vulnerable and focus on my challenges and failures, along with successes, along the way.

I also hope this encourages you to share your story. Your experiences and lessons are valuable to those you lead. I’d love to hear more about your journey and explore how the MACNY team or I can support your growth. Reach out and do not go it alone!