Leaders new to business storytelling often struggle with mastering techniques essential for success. Here are my top 5 business storytelling techniques that will turn a business storytelling apprentice into a master. Clarity on purpose The most important business storytelling technique is to be clear on the purpose/message of your story. When you are in the pub or sharing stories with …
What is business storytelling?
Business storytelling is storytelling with a purpose and for results. Let’s look at an example. Two salesmen were sent to Africa in the 1900s to see if there was any opportunity for selling shoes. They wrote telegrams back to Manchester, one of them writing, “Situation hopeless. Stop. They don’t wear shoes.” And the other one wrote, “Glorious opportunity. They don’t …
Business storytelling–I already do this
Recently, I was presenting on the power of business storytelling at a professional services firm. I had been brought in with the brief that the team members needed to humanise their content. Clients had been complaining about drowning in data and not feeling a connection to the solutions. The professional services team members were even accused of being ‘robotic’ in …
Business storytelling―how to segue into a story
Imagine if you walked into a business meeting where no one knew you and immediately launched into your content without shaking hands or introducing yourself. This abrupt start won’t set you up for success. In the business world, handshakes and introductions are rapport-building ways we connect before we get down to business. Similarly, when using business storytelling, leaders I work …
Business storytelling – I’m afraid it won’t work
One of the biggest challenges leaders face when using business storytelling is the fear that it won’t work. When we tell a personal story, we feel vulnerable, and the stakes are high, thereby creating pressure points around success. We seldom apply this same pressure test to data that we might use! (That’s just a sideways rant 🙂 ) Fear of …
Business storytelling best tip―go personal
Business storytelling is defined as storytelling with a purpose and for results. But, sadly, sometimes the very word ‘business’ in business storytelling can do it a disservice. The term ‘business storytelling’ makes people assume that all your stories have to be about business. Nothing could be further from the truth! Let’s face it, most business stories (hmmm, there is no …
Changing the narrative in business storytelling ― Phil Knight and Shoe Dog
Just this morning, I was reading Shoe Dog: A memoir by Phil Knight, the creator of NIKE. It’s packed with personal and professional insights and stories. As you might know, in the 1990s, there were many damaging reports on Nike’s use of Asian sweatshops. In his memoir, Phil Knight shares how he and his team decided to make changes to …