Storytelling as a Super Power

Do you watch Netflix ?

Are you guilty of binge-watching Netflix ?

Assuming your answer is yes to both these questions. Let’s do a second test.

Do you look forward to corporate presentations and the droning of your colleagues ?

Have you ever wanted to binge-attend a presentation meeting ?

Assuming your answer is a heck no, you are now ready to understand why storytelling is such a powerful skill for you and your career.

Storytelling is one of the most powerful things you can do to amplify your message and gain traction from your target audience. Be that in a board room, in a town hall, in a high stakes presentation, in a pitch or more. But most people don't know how to do leverage this potent tool for greater influence and impact.

I am convinced it is the highest ROI activity you will undertake in your career but before I tell you why, here is a special announcement:

Applications are now open for the Strategic Storytelling system online program starting April 15th 2024.

We will be running on Asia and Europe time which does include Australia friendly times as well.

Click the banner below to see details and apply in the early application process (and then come back to check out the newsletter below)

How Storytelling Can Help You Break Out of a Career Rut

Storytelling is both an art and a science. The currency of engagement with your agenda and what you say is the attention you get from people. Think of storytelling as the

secret ingredient of people who know how to get attention and, more importantly, keep it.

People don’t understand that it’s the time-tested, scientifically validated, and highly proven principles of neurobiology that underlie the art and science of storytelling. Considering this knowledge, you can take that dry, boring, mind-numbing presentation that nobody wants to listen to and create a story that captivates listeners’ attention and keeps them wanting more.

Once you’ve drawn them in, they’ll be more willing and eager to support you in what you want to do. But where do you start?

Top question I get from beginners of corporate storytelling program

We are crunched for time ! Who has time to tell a story !! Right ?

or - Our company is so data-oriented, a story will never work there! Right?

Ummmm........WRONG (insert irritating game show buzzer sound)

A story does not have to be long for it to be impactful. Most people think of stories as this long drawn out full-fledged narration of an event and its resolution but the thing is you can use 'principles of storytelling' and embed it in your presentations to make it more powerful. I have in fact embedded some of those principles at the start of this newsletter !

I call this storytelling in 'Stealth mode'.        

As for a data-oriented company, did you know that data is good, but data wrapped in a story is invincible? We had Brent Dykes who I consider the world's leading expert on data-based storytelling to speak to our previous co-horts of the online storytelling program and he recently posted this slide which says it all:

Learning to leverage stories while presenting data is a whole skill that can put you ahead of the curve when the time-tested, scientifically validated, and highly proven principles of neurobiology arguments making data-based

Do you have proof that it is the highest ROI activity learning !?

I hear your skepticism loud and clear.

I run programs to teach people the fundamentals of storytelling, and the success stories that I’ve witnessed have been incredibly inspiring and honestly sometimes even hard for me to believe but people in our program are living proof of this..

• I’ve had someone drop out mid-session to apply the skills they just learned to a presentation that was coming up in the next two hours, and they ended up nailing it beyond their wildest imagination.
• I’ve had people finish a workshop and go to work the following day to revive dead accounts because they said they had nothing to lose.
• I’ve seen people who have gone up to give industry keynotes where they have been put on the spot and used storytelling to diffuse the situation and provide a rockstar presentation.

The evidence behind storytelling is truly overwhelming!

I like to say that learning to use storytelling is like using a box of crayons. Once you’ve mastered the crayons, you can draw whatever you want. You can use it for change management, presentations, keynote speeches, and so on. The possibilities are endless.

Storytelling is the highest return on investment activity you can do for yourself. It’s a skill that pays on many levels and on many fronts. It’s just a matter of how far you want to go.

You’re Already a Storyteller

When you think about it, you’ve been telling stories since you were maybe three or four. This isn’t new to you. It’s just that you haven’t realized how powerful of a skill it can be when used in a business context because you never learned to do it. Think about your “why” and build your story up from there..

No matter where you sit on the pyramid, storytelling will get you where you want to go. Whether it’s leveling up, breaking out of a rut, or improving your business's reach, it truly is an asset. Ask yourself questions, experiment with different stories, and find what resonates with you. Now, share it with the world.

Remember, storytelling is a choice to invest in the power of your ideas and messages. You are one step away from that choice! Click here to apply for the global online cohort starting April 15th, 2024

Podcast alert: One of our most downloaded episodes

Also, don't forget to tune into our latest podcast with Dawn Graham, PhD, LP , A leading career expert, who hosts the popular national SiriusXM radio show ‘Dr. Dawn on Careers’, reaching 600,000 listeners weekly. With a background in recruitment and a passion for guiding career transitions, she offers invaluable insights to job seekers, empowering them to seize opportunities.

Dawn Graham, PhD, LP addresses some very pertinent questions in light of the evolving landscape, questions that surely resonate with many of us

• What if I am in field X but want to go in field Y??
• What is the most powerful question I can ask a hiring manager when they close the interview (This will be solid gold advice)?
• What do people not understand about the backstage of the hiring process??
• And who is the person I have to convince most when you switch a field??

This and more in our latest podcast with Dawn Graham, Author of "Switchers: The Smart Professionals Guide to Changing Careers and Seizing Success. So tune in now? Plus, we also tackle the debate on further education vs. real-world experience and reveal a game-changing interview question that could turn the tables in your favor. Don't miss out as Dr. Graham shares what can empower you to take control of your career destiny.? Tune in now to transform your professional journey!?

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