Using fictional storytelling techniques in business“Once upon a time…” Need I go further? You know you’ve entered a story. Perhaps you prefer something a little more straightforward: “Call me Ishmael,” “I am an invisible man” or “Mother died today.” The simple act of telling a story demands attention whether it starts with the fantastical or the concrete. It’s the difference between academic and business-speak and barroom banter. Read more
Is there room for storytelling in business settings?This post first appeared as a guest blog on the Corporate Executive Board.
Is storytelling appropriate in business? Is there a place for incorporating an engaging tale in the commercial world? I believe there is, but after sharing my ideas about storytelling in the boardroom and beyond for the past year, I encountered many who disagree. Read more
Three tips for driving innovation in any organizationTechnology executive and author Tom Kelley calls them devil’s advocates. Guy Kawasaki, another notable executive author, calls them bozos. Whatever label or moniker one attaches to them, they are the people in business organizations who act as speed bumps or roadblocks to innovation, and they are a powerful force in American business. Read more
3 ways to help you use storytelling to rally the troopsAllen Schoer has a lot of good ideas when it comes to storytelling! Read this post for some of his thoughts and my comments. In another article, he makes the point that anyone in a leadership role – particularly the CEO – must have strong storytelling skills to rally the troops. Read more
Big challenges ahead of big dreams?Big dreams often come with challenges and hurdles that must be navigated and overcome. No matter the obstacle, dreams are at the core of most great ideas. But what if the barrier was a law that would not allow you to pursue your dream? Here are three people who would not let that stop them. Read more
Cultivating strong talent takes timeBlackberries and the Internet make the line between home and work easy to blur. But vacations and work need a strong line drawn. While at play, collecting factoids and stories is about the only thing close to work I want to be doing. After finishing a long weekend in Paso Robles wine country, I can count the stories, but did not read a single email! Read more
How to be a great storyteller – 5 parts of a business storyThere’s always an implicit contract between the storyteller and his audience. It includes a promise that the listeners’ expectations, once aroused, will be fulfilled. Listeners give the storyteller their time, with the understanding that he will spend it wisely. For most businesspeople, time is the scarcest resource; the storyteller who doesn’t respect that will pay dearly. Read more
How to become a strong communicator – collect stories and factoidsI have a friend who says, “Good wine, good friends and good stories go together.” I would put some good food in that mix also, but I agree. I have a group of former co-workers who make it a priority to organize a trip at the beginning of every year. In January or February, we trek off to a land of rolling hills covered in grape vines, rent a big bunk house for everyone and explore the area in search of good stories. Read more