Storytelling’s Post

One of the most valuable skills for a professional is the ability to tell stories. Stories can captivate your audience, convey your message, and inspire action. Here are some tips to help you craft and deliver effective stories: - Start with a clear goal. What do you want your audience to feel, think, or do after hearing your story? Use this to choose the right story and structure it accordingly. - Use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Describe your situation and task, explain the action you took, and highlight the result you achieved. This will help you create a logical and coherent narrative. - Be specific and authentic. Use details and examples that make your story vivid and relatable. Share your emotions and challenges, and show your personality. - Keep it concise and relevant. Focus on the key elements of your story that support your goal. Cut out anything that doesn't add value or interest. - Practice and polish. Write down your story and rehearse it until you feel confident. Use feedback from others to improve your delivery and impact. #storytelling #communication #professionaldevelopment

I have no stories to tell. That's what someone said to me recently when I encouraged her to tell more stories in order to become a better communicator. “But I have no stories to tell.” It’s a common sentiment, one that often stops people from realising their potential. But here’s the truth: everyone has a story. And storytelling? It’s powerful. Think about the word “story.” It’s not just about epic adventures or grand achievements. It’s about the little moments that make up our lives. It’s the conversation you had with a stranger that changed your perspective. It’s the challenge you overcame, even if it seemed small at the time. When you say, “I have no stories to tell,” you’re undermining your own experiences. You’re missing the chance to connect, to inspire, and to be remembered. Let’s break it down. Stories don’t need to be dramatic. They just need to be authentic. Maybe you think your daily routine isn’t interesting, but it’s the lens through which you view the world that brings it to life. Your unique insights, your triumphs, your struggles—these are the threads that weave together to create a compelling narrative. Talk about a project that challenged you and what you learned from it. Share how a mentor’s advice shaped your career. These snippets of your life are what resonate with people. Storytelling isn’t just about recounting events; it’s about conveying emotions, lessons, and perspectives. It’s about making connections. When you tell a story, you’re opening a window into your world, allowing others to see through your eyes. And in doing so, you create a bond, a shared understanding. Because in the end, it’s the stories we share that make us memorable.

I'm always reading books about storytelling. Some are🔥...others👎. Sharing my 💭on one here: The clients and causes I work with aren't telling stories for entertainment...they want people to act. So, I've been reading books on: • Influence • Persuasion • Changing Minds (I also became certified by the Cialdini Institute as an Ethical Influence Practitioner.) So, I was excited to dig into Duhigg's latest. Understanding the 3 types of conversations people have was valuable, and I'm already putting it into practice. When my wife is sharing something that happened, I ask myself which type does she want us to have then? It keeps me from 'solving' a problem when she just wants to share...it's better for both of us. Understanding we're having a "How do we feel?" conversation rather than a "What's this REALLY about" conversation is 🪙. I enjoyed reading about how people share stories to create connection and understanding around sensitive topics. He shows stories in action to talk about gun policy, vaccines, and racism. But, if you're looking for a HOW TO on better communication, this isn't it. It's more of a WHEN TO. Have you read it? I'd love to hear your impressions. --------------------------- Hi, I'm Dan. I'm a Storyteller. I read a TON of books. I also make a TON of content. This is a way to do both. If these 1-page reviews are helpful, let me know the next story or communication book you'd like me to do.

🎨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬! 🎨 Ever wondered why some messages stick while others are forgotten? The secret is storytelling. By using stories, you can make your communication more engaging and memorable. Here’s how storytelling helps: 1. 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 : Stories connect with people’s emotions, making your message more powerful. 2. 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 : Stories make complex ideas easy to understand. 3. 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 : People remember stories better than just facts. 4. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 : Sharing stories builds trust and stronger relationships. 5. 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 : A good story can motivate and persuade others. Want to improve your communication? Start telling stories and see the difference! 𝐓𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐭 : Share a story in your next conversation and notice the impact. Share your experience with me! 🌟 #Storytelling #CommunicationSkills #PersonalGrowth #EngageAndInspire

Have you ever been so immersed in a story that you completely lost track of time? . . . That’s the power of storytelling. Well, it can do wonders in your professional life too. Storytelling can completely transform the way we interact and leave a lasting impact. It's more than just speaking or writing. It’s about creating a compelling narrative that helps you build a connection with your audience. It's about making complex ideas relatable and simple. It's not just about informing your audience, it’s about engaging with them. 🌟 When we talk about professional life, storytelling can be the difference between a forgettable presentation and a memorable one. It can be the difference between a boring report and an engaging one. It's a skill that can keep you ahead in your career, no matter what field you're in. 🚀 So, can you master the skill of storytelling? Start by practicing. Tell a story in your next meeting, in your next presentation, and your next IELTS essay. What are your thoughts on this? Drop a comment and let’s chat! #rvielts

This weekend I'm kickstarting my "Yearly Review" (Better Late than not done)  for storytelling and public speaking growth. I begin with a simple "Proof of Growth" exercise to prime reflection. The goal is straightforward: • Recap the past year's storytelling progress  • Extract lessons and realizations • Set intentions for the year ahead So to start, I set the frame to show tangible evidence of where I've developed and where I've plateaued. I list out 5 key areas: 1. Story Craft 2. Performance Ability  3. Confidence  4. Experiences 5. Business Impact Then I dig into each one by dumping where I was a year ago versus now. Here are some example indicators to compare and contrast: Story Craft • Understanding of narrative structure    • Character development abilities • Descriptive scene-setting skills • Dialogue writing competencies • Storyboarding processes Performance Ability • Memorization capacities • Vocal variety and projection • Body language and staging • Ability to "get into character" • Improv and audience interaction skills Confidence • Willingness to put myself out there    • Bravery to take risks and handle reactions • Resilience after failures or tough crowds • Self-assurance in my abilities  • Security in my storytelling style Experiences • Number of times I performed publicly • Variety of audiences performed for • Range of content pieces created • Mentors and feedback received Business Impact • Income directly from storytelling • Indirect value for business, brand, marketing • Level of demand for my storytelling services • Perception as a storyteller from key stakeholders This is just the start. But quickly you'll notice strengths gained and areas not progressed. From there you can spot patterns on what propelled you forward and held you back. One personal note: If you're serious about storytelling growth, your skills should look vastly different than a year ago. I'm confrontation that brutal truth and setting the table for the year ahead! #storytelling #leadershipandmanagement #contentcreation

Hi, LinkedIn! As history shows, I don't often feel compelled to post "sweeping, general advice" in this forum. However, I feel strongly about the following observation: You should probably avoid saying things like "Oh, I'm not good at making slides look nice" and you should probably overcome any reluctance you have to learn this skillset. Why? Well, not being the best storyteller you can be is career-limiting. Regardless of your profession, you need to tell stories. Understood that "good stories" and "good slides" do not have a 1:1 relationship, but the reality of business is that often times the storytelling setting you're entering into will demand visual accompaniment. A nice-looking, powerful accompaniment can be a single word on a screen. In fact, the less content on the slide, usually the better, because your audience wants to hear YOU tell a story. So, enough "I'm not good at slides". It's bad for you to say and to think. You're great at it. Be the best storyteller you can be. Find templates. Keep it simple. But above all, don't give up on trying because you think it doesn't matter -- it almost always matters.

Storytelling is a powerful tool in negotiation, as it evokes empathy, aids in retention, and prompts action. Key characteristics of an engaging story include compelling characters, engaging plot, vivid setting, themes, and emotional resonance. These elements make a story captivating and keep the listener interested. Emotional resonance is crucial for three main reasons: connection and empathy, memory and retention, and motivation and action. Stories that evoke emotions like fear, joy, sadness, or curiosity stick more effectively in our minds than dry information. They can inspire us to think differently, act upon our beliefs, and even change our behavior. In negotiation, persuasion skills are essential, and emotional resonance plays a crucial role in influencing and convincing others. By sharing stories that evoke similar emotions, stories break down barriers and foster trust. In conclusion, storytelling combines with negotiation's persuasion skills to create compelling narratives that foster trust and influence outcomes effectively.