How can you help a leader develop their storytelling skills?

I disagree with this point. There's an element of truth in starting with executives from where they are at. There's no special formula for that. Storytelling for executives is not about creative writing, it's about mining memories and shaping narratives from them in order to move their audiences, both emotionally and move them to take action. A skills inventory might not be a necessary first step. Could come later down the line if there's huge interest in perfecting the craft. Structure, content, delivery and impact are all inevitable parts of practicing telling stories. Would advise starting with point 5 in this list and working back from there. I would not share examples but rather invite them to share what/who inspires them.

Usually I encourage the leader to reflect on personal experiences, extracting key learnings that align with their message. I tend to emphasize on ethical storytelling by highlighting positive outcomes and lessons without compromising integrity. As a coach I support leaders in crafting the story with a compelling narrative arc, incorporating relatable elements to captivate the audience. Authenticity of the story can happen through ensuring the leader's genuine voice shines through, fostering connection and resonance with listeners. practicing the delivery to create a memorable and impactful story that effectively communicates the intended message.

The most critical question you need to ask them is "Do you want to tell stories?" Not everyone does, and that's ok. You can be a great communicator without. Pressuring people to tell stories will not help them and take up valuable time from the ones that do.

Active listening! Encourage the client to share a meaningful story. Listen, reflect, emphasize, and show that you care about it if it’s important to them. A lot of times we think people don’t care about our story. Reality is - stories are a powerful way to connect to other humans authentically. We need to remind our clients about that.

Keep it simple. Ask "Tell me about yourself" and then listen. Don't even give people a hint why you are asking, to get their natural style and content. We can tell a lot from this kind of 'normal' interaction. We can see strengths and developmental areas easily. Most people will give sequential data accounts. It's also an easy thing to compare to later on!

Rather than teach them, guide them to apply a structured framework to their story telling that makes sense to them. What I found works best is to have a clear idea of what key messages you want to leave your audience with. How would you like them to feel after they listened to you? Remember, people will forget what you said or what you know, but they will always remember how you made them feel. Understanding which emotions you want to evoke and why is fundamental for the basics.

Data insights can be excellent starting points for building a story. Author Gary Klein writes that an insight is “an unexpected shift in the way we understand things.” ? Some examples include: 1. We thought all of our customers liked feature A, but they prefer feature B instead. 2. We believed this industry was a poor target market, but it is actually a good one. 3. We assumed our process was broken due to X, but it was really caused by Y. Those insights are the seeds of the story. The narrative blooms from answering "how did we come to that new understanding?"

A few books about storytelling or presentation that I recommend: 1) Building a StoryBrand - teaches 7 framework one can follow to effectively message and convince audience 2) Storytelling with Data - teaches how to leverage visuals and data to tell a story and convey your messages based on your audience 3) Thinking Fast and Slow - this is not directly about storytelling techniques, but rather by educating us how people think and how can one leverage this knowledge to communicate with different audiences geared to their different "thinking systems"

Stories stick when they combine real data, facts with a real world example, especially one that is relevant to the audience and elicits an emotional response. Then, demonstrate how this translates to a new situation or challenge.

There are a wide range of storytelling formats that can be researched. Useful as they are, nothing beats real personal stories told with passion. The challenge is identifying the right stories. I find it difficult, especially when I'm trying to hard to think of one. So I go for a walk Whist walking I try not to concentrate on stories. I try to concentrate on the beautiful countryside. And suddenly a suitable story pops into my head. Amazing what the subconscious can do!

The best way to excel any thing is to practice it regularly without fear of failures Practice makes things stay on course over a period. Practice develops habits Practice makes things permanent Practice makes things easier Practice makes things improve So as you keep practicing your skill even if you are still learning, it makes stay and improve.

There is an organization called "The Moth" (https://themoth.org/) which is completely designed as a storytelling agency. If someone wants to learn how to become a better storyteller, there is probably not a better program to take or folks to learn from than the Moth. They prepare the learner, encourage the learner, they advise and coach the learner through a story of their own. The skills learned through a Moth program can take any average storyteller and make them much more comfortable tapping into their vulnerability and be able to share their stories much easier and more fluidly.

I found it powerful to get permission from my client to interrupt them anytime they miss opportunities to insert story, anecdotes, or metaphor, which, in my view, are all related. For example, it takes a while to overcome the natural habit of going straight into facts explained with reasoning. Rather, when we ask a question to our client, we want to build a habit that they answer with, "Thanks, great question. There was one time that I..." and so forth.

Many years ago, I will never forget a wonderful coach who helped me prepare for an interview. She made me record myself, and then I had to look at myself afterwards. There was definitely a humbling experience, because I thought I did a lot better in my mind. Since that moment, I kept on practicing and recording videos and speak. And what truly unlocked my confidence in public speaking is not so much talent or gift, I grew up stuttering...but practicing. The more you practice, the more comfortable you become with storytelling.

Deliberate practice is crucial. If you practice your bad habits you will embed them. Storytelling is a craft. Get them professional coaching, at least get professional coaching yourself and then guide them. Great athletes have coaches. The tennis greats know how to hit the ball yet still have coaches to provide that extra so that they are always doing deliberate practice. Storytelling is a great skill to have if you can do it well and make sure its relevant.

Leaders should leverage their personal experiences to share in as stories. These will naturally inbuild the sequence, expressions, tonality and volume thereby immersing the listener to ones intent of the story! I personally use this and feel it’s just natural and impactful.

Leaders often enhance their storytelling skills by experimenting with different narrative structures, incorporating anecdotes, or varying their tone. Encourage leaders to step out of their comfort zone, trying new approaches to discover what resonates best with their audience and refines their storytelling craft.

If they've got a good story, work with them to rework it with a different tone or goal in mind. How can you make this an underdog story? What could you do to make this a "I had no idea this would happen" story? Can you make it lighter? What happens if you take out the humor? etc. You could start that process by having them explore different audiences and what their needs might be. Knowing "whom" you're telling the story to is so crucial.

Experiment allow you to learn as what works for you and what do not works for you Experiment helps leaders to Guage courage to do things with ease So most important aspect for leaders to improve their storytelling is to make them Experiment with it regularly Because as they Experiment with storytelling, they will understand the self confidence with it and getting ease with the same More they will Experiment more they will find ways and means to make it work.

Humour about yourself. One of the key deterrents, in my experience, in embracing storytelling is the fear or being laughed at, or fear of looking stupid, or fear of not pulling it off. Story telling skills are honed through experimentation over a period of time. What prevents experimentation are these fears. As a coach the shift that can be made in coachees is to harness the ability to laugh at yourself, develop a humour about life and reality, and let go. Once that happens a story is born in itself.

Leaders excel in storytelling when they apply their learnings directly to real-world scenarios. Support them by encouraging the application of storytelling techniques in team meetings, presentations, or during strategy discussions. This hands-on approach enhances their confidence and ensures the practical integration of newly acquired skills.

For the time-strapped executive, I would start here (point 5 in this AI-generated list) and scrap points 1) and 2). We all know the absolute basics of storytelling, barring extreme circumstances. Start with the opportunity - make it low-stakes if there is risk involved - and coach from where they are at. Every story should start with an audience and objective. Then you can learn the different methods of delivery and experiment with practice.

This step is key when helping a leader to get started with the art of storytelling. Once a leader understands the power of storytelling (which can be things like authenticity, relatability, and show experience & compassion), they need to step into vulnerability and start to learn the application piece of this art. Storytelling must consist of the right story, at the right time, for the right reason. And although there may be times when a leader can do this to add some light heartedness to a situation, the power is when the application of the story meets a current situation.

Very important! Coaches could help them apply in real life settings- in ways to work with people and groups, to make decisions, to connect with people and drive the goals creatively.

Supporting leaders to apply storytelling skills involves assisting them in identifying key messages aligned with their values and goals, crafting engaging narratives, and employing vivid language. By encouraging active listening and fostering empathy, leaders can tailor their stories to connect with their audience on a deeper level. Providing constructive feedback and opportunities for practical application enables leaders to refine their storytelling techniques and gain confidence in their ability to inspire and influence others. By supporting leaders to apply storytelling effectively, they can authentically connect with their teams, share their vision, and drive positive change within their organizations.

Don't ever lose sight of your audience. Your story, like all good leadership, is NEVER about you (even if you may be a character in the story). It's always for "them" - the audience, your team, anyone who might be, or could be, your follower.

More crucial than acquiring skills is the ability to authentically resonate with the content one communicates. My 2 cents would be to start by selecting a topic that genuinely ignites passion and allows for hours of enthusiastic discussion. To bolster confidence, consider presenting to someone well-acquainted with you as the audience. Candid feedback from friends and acquaintances not only elevates motivation but also contributes to enhancing storytelling skills. The key lies not in the formalities of presentation but in narrating a story interwoven with personal experiences unique to the individual.

Empower the leader by encouraging them to study compelling storytellers, extracting resonating techniques. Guide them to adapt these insights into their style, ensuring authenticity. Tailor storytelling to their natural traits, considering qualities like logic for analytical leaders or emotion for expressive ones. It will enhance their storytelling skills, stimulating engagement and impact.

THe crux of executive presence coaching is to get control of your speech (voice). A strong leader is a great story teller. I have trained several influential CEOs to become a impactful story teller. This improves their overall charisma.

In my opinion, a crucial aspect is to encourage leaders to be authentic. I encourage them to reflect on their personal experiences, including moments of success, failures, and lessons learned, and connect these stories to their values and beliefs. Stories that align with one's values and beliefs come across as more genuine and will engage their audience more.