1. Storytelling: Communicating from the Heart Performance Consulting Group

2. Why Stories? Stories are how we think Stories are how we relate

3. Stories to have in your hip pocket o What the organizations stands for o What “we do” stories o Future stories o Success stories o Overcoming barriers story o Customer stories Make your life a story worth telling!

4. Stories humanize us and help us form connections. In a world where human connections help us accomplish everything, storytelling is the most effective way for us to succeed, whatever we’re trying to accomplish.

5. Stories at work Various applications o Sales meetings and presentations o Customer service o Market and customer research o Forging partnerships and strategic alliances o Year-end reports o Etc.. Various applications o Enhancing teamwork o Managing projects o Interviewing job prospects o Strategic planning and implementing change o Developing leaders and engaging employees o Etc..

6. Storytelling is the key o Leadership is a process of social influence, which maximizes the efforts of others, towards the achievement of a goal  Influence is the ability to affect a course of action in others

7. 5 Benefits of exceptional storytelling Benefits of Exceptional Storytelling Motivate individuals and groups to take action Build trust and rapport Make data and facts sing by becoming applicable, interesting, and relevant Infuse information with “stickiness” to improve retention. Transform beliefs and change minds

8. Not everything is a story A Story provides sensory language presented in a way that allows the listener to quickly and comprehensively internalize the narrative, understand it, create meaning from it and form a framework for action.

9. The structural definition 0 A detailed, character based narration of a character’s struggles to overcome barriers to reach an important goal.

10. Why - why should I care? How - how will this improve my life? What - what must I do? Effective stories answer 3 questions

11. The elements a story 0 The hero 0 The enemy 0 Major needs of your character 0 Major issues of the story 0 The kinds of possible resolution 0 What the major result is 0 Lessons you want to incorporate  Happy times  The problem or conflict  Hard times  Funny moments  The obstacles  Victory moment  The realization  Great parting message

12. Classic business story structures SHARES Setting Hindrance Action Results Evaluation Suggested actionsPARLAS Problem Action Result Learning Application Suggested actions ChARQES Context Hindrance Action Results quantified Evaluation Suggested actions CCARLS Context Challenge Action Result Lesson Suggested actions

13. o Overcoming the Monster o The Quest o Tragedy o Rebirth o Voyage and Return o Rags to Riches Classic story themes

14. Overcoming the Monster A hero is tasked with destroying a monster (not necessarily a literal one).

15. The Quest A hero steps forth to perform a task, and usually has friends/allies around to help out

16. Tragedy The protagonist wants something so badly that they lose part of themselves in trying to get it. By the end they are no longer themselves

17. Rebirth A main character is almost on the path to tragedy, but something happens that allows them to see themselves from the outside and so do something about it

18. Rags to Riches A main character, through their own efforts (and maybe supernatural help), is able to rise above their station in life and achieve what they desire.

19. Voyage and Return The protagonist finds him or herself in a world where nothing makes sense, with no understanding of who is friend and who is foe. Finally they learn the ropes of the world and can act upon this knowledge.

20. Stories to have in your hip pocket o What the organizations stands for o What “we do” stories o Future stories o Success stories o Overcoming barriers story o Customer stories Make your life a story worth telling!

21. Crafting your story

22. 1. Determine the theme 0 Creativity and innovation 0 Courage 0 Leadership 0 Assertiveness 0 Teamwork and collaboration 0 Perseverance 0 Helpfulness 0 Others?????

23. 2. Figure out the key message 0 What is your goal in telling the story? 0 What does the story mean to you? 0 What did you learn or gain from the experience? 0 What do you want the audience to believe after sharing the story? 0 What do you want the audience to do after sharing the story?

24. 3. Start the story – Paint the picture 0 What’s the setting? 0 What kind of day was it? 0 Who is the main character? (Hero, Protagonist) 0 What ‘s the hero/protagonist doing or feeling? 0 What other characters are present? 0 What are the other characters doing?

25. 4. Determine the conflict or problem 0 What is the core struggle in the story? 0 What does the main character want? 0 What are the complications? 0 What are the barriers that stand in the main characters way? 0 Who is the bad guy in the story? An irritating person/rule/regulation/organizational value, maybe the status quo or a combination?

26. Current State (What is) Transformed State (What Could Be) The story arc  It is the sequence of events that keep the listener moving along in the story

27. 5. Lay out the story arc When thinking about the story arc… 1. What is the sequence of events? 2. When is the defining moment in the story? 3. How are the characters feeling? 4. How is the conflict resolved? 5. What is the new awareness that the main character has?

28. 6. Unfold the plot 0 How do the events flow in the story? 0 What happens first, second, third and so on? 0 What steps are taken to bring us to the end?

29. Grab people’s attention What can you do to strengthen the emotional element of the story? What tension can you build into the story by waiting to reveal key pieces? Does the nature of your story allow for humor? What unexpected event can you add into the story to add drama and surprise?

30. Getting your story to POP Bringing characters to life  Empathy for your characters  Distinguishing features and gestures  Speaking styles of characters  Fears of the characters  Goals and needs of the characters

31. Sensory imagery and contrast o What additional visual scenes can you paint for listeners? o Where can you add stark contrasts? o Where can you add contrast of environmental elements? o What irony can you add to further enhance your story? o Where could you add figure of speech to boost contrast and enhance imagery? Oxymorons, metaphors and similes, analogies, and aphorisms  Oxymorons, metaphors and similes, analogies, and aphorisms

32. Using humor to lighten the mood 0 Conceptual – funny words, phrases and silly ideas that relate to your story 0 Physical – how do you use your body, gestures, and facial expressions to invoke humor 0 Vocal – pay attention to rhythm, tempo, volume, inflection and timing

33. 7. End the story The four main parts 1. The resolution of the conflict 2. The key message of the story 3. The transition to an action statement 4. The action statement These key questions must align:  How is the conflict resolved?  How are characters changed?  What must the listeners do next? What actions can they take to get the results they desire?

34. In summary we have… The opening scene Then something happens (the conflict) Barriers/complications appear Barriers/complications are overcome Resolution occurs New insights gained The end and parting message is offered

35. Elements of a Great Story The Hero encounters a Stimulus. The Stimulus leads them in the direction of resolution or transformation.. Tension or a Conflict is exposed. Our Hero now must maneuver challenges and obstacles. A Crossroad where the final transformation takes place. In your story this is where the hero understands what to do to transform himself The final chapter in the story is referred to as the Moral of the Story. The Hero has navigated the Conflict and appears transformed in an ideal state. Sympathetic main character, AKA the Hero. The audience should be able to see themselves in the hero and the situation.

36. What type of stories will you tell?

37. o Characters o Conflict o Cure o Change o Carryout Message Remember the 5 C’s