Stories that make business sense
You've probably been told at some point in your leadership career that storytelling is good for leaders. But what are the practical steps in designing the right story for the right purpose? Story Design connects your message to the business outcome and you with your audience.
WORKSHOP OUTCOMES
Master the technique and supercharge your abilities* to...
- Communicate a vision or strategy that inspires action
- Navigate teams through change and difficult times
- Lead meetings that welcome conversation and move the business forward
- Pitch an idea with more buy-in
- Unify team members and connect them with your organization's purpose
- Build relationships through story listening
*The workshop will be customized to your group's goals. 2-3 of the above topics may be covered in one session.
STRUCTURE of the workshop
SET GOALS
Before the workshop begins, we'll take a moment to review the Story Design model, share what's most important for the group to accomplish and set some goals. Then get to work!
DISCOVER
Every good business story begins with the answers to these two questions:
- Who is my audience?
- What do I want them to do?
For instance, you may want frontline customer service managers to come together to brainstorm on how to bolster lagging satisfaction scores. There's a story for that. Or you may have a message to motivate your people who are struggling with working from home full-time. There's a story for that too. You'll walk through a series of steps to make sure you know your audience and that you're clear about the outcome of your message. Along the way, you'll discover stories.
DESIGN
You've done the heavy lifting. Now, you'll use what you know about your audience to create characters that they will relate to. Through a series of short exercises, you'll pair your relatable characters with strong conflict and begin the story-writing process.
You'll plug your characters and conflict into a story premise. Use the worksheets to flesh out and clarify the story so that it concretely ties to your message. Share your story with the group and refine it based on feedback from the facilitator and your peers.
DELIVER
We'll take inventory of the tools, applications and communication venues that are at your disposal and explore creative ways to deliver your story-based message to the intended audience. We'll also review strategic communication models that fit your message so your story has optimal impact.
PRACTICE AND FEEDBACK
Every workshop is packed with opportunities to practice the principles and get feedback from the facilitator and peers. You'll also receive hard copies and electronic copies of the worksheets so you can continue put them to use as soon as you return to work. Prepare for idea-sharing, fun and, of course, lots of stories!
CHECK-IN
To strengthen the skills you've gained from the workshop, join the facilitator for a virtual hour-long follow up. Celebrate successes, share challenges and ask questions for immediate feedback.
Your facilitator
Rance Greene helps leaders understand their audience and what they are asking them to do. His story-based business solutions have made him a sought-after speaker and consultant. He is the author of Instructional Story Design, published by ATD Press. His lively workshops are noted for their practicality and, of course, stories.
