So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller... Stories In Business
I\u2019m teaching a storytelling workshop to 100 non-profit executive directors when one of the CEOs raises her hand. She says, \u201cI don\u2019t have a story. I run the local Humane Society and we depend on donations. None of the donors care about my personal story. They want to hear about the animals.\u201d\xa0
So I ask her why she wanted to become CEO in the first place.
\u201cThat\u2019s easy,\u201d she says. \u201cI rescued a kitten when I was young and from then on I knew I wanted to spend my life helping animals.\u201d
Her answer to my question is her story.\xa0
It\u2019s the one she goes on to tell donors who get to know, like, and trust her on a level like never before. And in the months that follow, sharing that story creates a huge competitive advantage in raising money for her local branch of the Humane Society.
That\u2019s the name of the game, folks! And it\u2019s what I\u2019m digging into in this episode as the podcast series \u201cSo You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller\u2026\u201d continues. This time we are focusing on how and why to use stories in business.
In the episode, I discuss why using personal stories for business matters, even when dealing with serious issues. I cover the trust factor that stories engender, using story in an environment unaccustomed to it, experimenting with story length, the importance of crafting your story instead of just shooting it from the hip, and much more.
What you will learn in this episode:
- Why stories are applicable in any type of business communication
- How to come up with stories for specific business purposes
- How to trim your story down to three minutes or less\xa0
A little about me:
Hi there. I\u2019m Kymberlee.
As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I\u2019ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I\u2019ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn\u2019t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That\u2019s why I\u2019m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people\u2019s lives.
Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You\u2019ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.
If you think business owners can\u2019t tell stories or don\u2019t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There\u2019s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.
Now it\u2019s your turn... If you\u2019re ready to become a master storyteller and affect change in our world, you\u2019ve come to the right place.
Links and Resources: