3 Questions That Will Change How You See Every Story
The storytellers toolkit #1
It starts with awareness. What stories shape our world, what stories do we tell - how does that affect both ourselves and the people in the stories. Lots of my work is trying to bridge across cultural differences, connecting us with diverse lived realities. But it also often asks from me to look at myself critically and ask questions about intent, power and inclusion.
What I found is, that those questions are relevant for all of us, when we consume or write stories, no matter the context, because they allow us to be more aware of the stories that shape us, influence us, and why they do this. So today, I want to share three questions, that will help you both become a better storyteller yourself, but also consume stories more intentionally.
In a world awash with stories—news flashes, TikToks, speeches, brand narratives, viral threads, or family lore—how do we discern meaning from manipulation? How do we keep from being swept away by misinformation, dominant narratives, or carefully crafted spins? But also how do we ourselves become better storytellers, able to tell inclusive and intentional stories?
But with narratives everywhere—across media, politics, and even the branding of our own identities—the stakes for narrative control are high. Those who control the narrative, control the journey. Misinformation thrives in this ecosystem, and as research shows, even once we’re aware a story is false, it often embeds itself stubbornly in memory (On stories & misinformation). So, how can we engage with stories without becoming unwitting participants in someone else’s script?
To thrive, we need narrative intelligence: the ability to read, write, understand, and critically reflect on the stories that shape our world and ourselves - and how those stories lead to the narratives that define us.
The good thing is, we can start this process with three deceptively simple but deeply powerful questions.
The Three Questions Toolkit
1. Who is Telling This Story? (Perspective and Motive)
Ask: Whose voice is framing the story? What is this person’s, brand’s, or institution’s motive?
Every story has a narrator—a perspective. Identifying that voice is the first step in critical engagement. Do we experience the narrative “through whose eyes…from which direction?” (On point of view questions). Whether it is a news article, an Instagram reel, or a Hollywood blockbuster, stories are crafted by someone with motivations, biases, and sometimes, deliberate agendas.
Are you hearing from a participant, a bystander, or a gatekeeper?
What is at stake for them?
Might there be a profit, reputation, or political advantage for them in telling the story this way?
Understanding narrative motive helps surface the potential for distorted representation and can even challenge dominant narratives by amplifying the stories of those misrepresented or silenced (On narrative control & perspective). It is also foundational for combating misinformation—knowing where and who your information comes from gives you a tool to measure its trustworthiness.
2. Whose Story Is Missing? (Inclusion and Omission)
Ask: Whose experiences or perspectives are absent from this narrative? What is not being said?
Every story is a slice—a selection. What you’re told is only part of the whole, and often important experiences, viewpoints, or facts are omitted intentionally or unconsciously.
Is the story favoring a particular group, ideology, or status quo?
Are there counter-narratives or lived experiences not represented?
Could the story’s frame be “disorganized messaging” meant less to inform and more to drown out other voices (On disorganized messaging and narrative control)?
Reflecting on this second question builds empathy and curiosity to seek out more complete pictures, and it is how we move beyond being passive consumers to becoming active participants in narrative ecosystems.
3. What is the Intended Effect? (Purpose and Impact)
Ask: How does this story want me to think, feel, or act? What is it driving me toward—emotionally, intellectually, or behaviourally?
Every story is written for a purpose—sometimes to inform, often to persuade, sometimes to manipulate. Research shows that stories are incredibly effective at bypassing rational defenses, sticking in memory, and driving action or belief—whether or not they are true (On narrative recall and effect). Ask yourself:
Am I being asked to buy, share, vote, or believe something?
Is this narrative oversimplifying complexity—or is it encouraging deeper thought?
Does it reaffirm or challenge my identity or beliefs?
Do I feel outrage, empathy, fear, or excitement? Why?
By questioning the purpose, you learn to spot attempts at manipulation, “sticky” misinformation, or deliberate narrative bias for conspiracy or division (On narrative bias & conspiracy). You can then consciously decide how (or whether) to internalize the story’s message.
Why These Questions Matter
Questions are powerful. In a world, that leads us to the idea, that the answers are out there, provided in a stream of atomic story bits, questions help us to pause and reflect. By pausing to interrogate not just the content, but also the construct of a narrative, you disrupt passive absorption and build your “narrative intelligence” muscle — the ability to recognize the patterns, motives, and purposes in stories, and to use this awareness for better and deeper, more aware interaction and reflection.
Applying the Toolkit: Practice Makes Powerful
Next time a story grips you—on your feed or in conversation—pause and ask:
Who is telling this story, and why?
Whose story isn’t here?
What is this story trying to make me feel, think, or do?
By making this a daily habit, you will not only immunize yourself against manipulation and misinformation, but also cultivate a richer, more empathetic, and critically engaged lens on the world. And as I pointed out at the beginning, it also helps us ourselves to tell better, more inclusive and intentional stories.
That’s the first—and I believe an essential — tool in the storyteller’s toolkit for this era: Three questions that can change how you see every story and, in time, the world itself.
Try it yourself and let me know, how it affected your perspective and interaction with the story you applied it to.
Curious for more? I will introduce more of those practical tools in the future. In future toolkit posts, we’ll dive deeper into narrative structure, emotional impact, empathy-building, and how to tell richer stories yourself—all pillars of narrative intelligence for the 21st Century.