Lead with a Story Paul Smith www.leadwithastory.com paul@leadwithastory.com
How can we improve jury deliberation process?
Why Tell Stories? Simple Timeless Demographic-proof Contagious Easy to remember Inspirational
When to tell stories
Share a story that increases the value of your idea
Problem Stories
What makes a great story a great story? A hero we care about A villain we re afraid of Epic struggle between them
What makes a great story a great story? A hero we care about A villain we re afraid of Epic struggle between them A relatable hero A relevant obstacle An honest struggle A worthy lesson
Story Structure: Questions Answered Why should I listen to this story? When and where does it take place? Who is the main character and what do they want? What was the problem or opportunity they ran into? What did they do about it? How did it turn out in the end? What did you learn from it? What do you think I should do now?
Story Structure: Story Spine I think the best example of that I ve seen was...... back in, at, there was, and (s)he was trying to. Then one day. So, (s)he, and then they, and so (s)he. Eventually... What I learned from that was... And that s why I think you should...
Bad Hooks Never: Apologize Ask permission Use the S-word ( story ) Give away the ending or specific lesson
Emotion Q. Why use emotion in a leadership story? A. Humans make emotional decisions
Emotion What is a story? Story = fact + emotion - novelist E.M. Forster The king died. And then the queen died of grief.
Are you capturing those great stories all around you?
What if your audience doesn t care about your idea? Find out what they do care about, then associate it with your idea in a story Source: Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Element of Surprise Purpose #1: at beginning, gets audience to pay attention Purpose #2: at end, seals lesson in memory
Element of Surprise: An Example What was the surprise at the beginning of the story? What was the surprise at the end?
No natural surprise in your story? Create one! James and the tea kettle
Courage to pursue your dreams Source: Parenting with a Story, by Paul Smith
Thank You If you d like to hear one new story a week, visit www.leadwithastory.com and sign up for my free weekly newsletter and podcast. Contact info: Email: paul@leadwithastory.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/leadwithastory I answer all emails personally and quickly.
Storytelling Roadmap and Checklist Story Selection What s your objective? What do you want the audience to think, feel, or do after the story? Think of a relevant success, failure, or moment of clarity to build your story around Alternatives: two-roads or discovery journey stories, folktale. Nothing? Make one up. Let audience know. Story Structure Hook Why should I listen to this story? Context Where and when did it happen? Who is the hero? (Are they relatable?) What do they want? (Is that worthy?) Other necessary background to make sense? Challenge What is the problem/opportunity? (Relevant?) Conflict What did the hero do about it? (Honest struggle?) Resolution How did it turn out in the end? Lesson What did you learn? Recommended Action What do you want me to do? Story Elements Emotion: Identify which emotions the characters or audience should be feeling. Use the tell me, show me, Make me feel, and dialog techniques to develop the most important ones Surprise: Beginning to get attention; End to seal it in memory. Lead with an unusual event, use flashback, skip one element in the context, or hide a critical fact until the end Dialog: Replace scenes where you describe what characters meant with what they actually said (outer) or thought (inner) Details: Replace generalities with specifics. Show, don t tell. Pick one important scene and describe it in vivid detail. Use metaphors Length: Leadership: 2-5 minutes to tell (300-750 words). Sales: 1-3 minutes to tell (150-450 words) Accuracy: Set expectations about accuracy of story. Would someone who was there be offended at your version? Delivery: Oral: focus on the story, not physical performance. 5 or 6 filler words a minute is okay. Conversational tone. Written: write the way you d like to speak 15 words per sentence, small words, active voice, Flesch-Kincaid of 7-8 Practice and Save: Stories should be unscripted and extemporaneous, not memorized. Walk and talk with imaginary friend to practice. Save your story in outline form www.leadwithastory.com Sources: Lead with a Story, and Sell with a Story, by Paul Smith paul@leadwithastory.com