"Wow", and "I knew it" are comments to the below text. Stories don't have to be long and involved, just engaging. Think about how to turn those facts into a story.
The Marketing Minute
by Marcia Yudkin, Marketing Expert and Mentor
http://www.yudkin.com/markmin.htm
*******************
Which approach attracts and keeps more readers: a no-
nonsense, just-the-facts style or information interlaced
with stories?
The folks at the BufferSocial blog decided to run a test.
They sent half their list to a page describing a step-by-
step process and the other half to a page beginning with a
story, followed by the same steps.
To their surprise, the no-story version had 300% fewer
readers making it all the way to the end of the article.
Stories involve readers. Whether we're young or old,
sophisticated or simple, stories reach our emotions as well
as our logical minds. They get us wanting to know what
happened next and why.
It's no wonder that of the most-viewed TED videos, 30%
begin with a story, twice as much as the next most popular
opening techniques.
Although the introductory story in the BufferSocial
experiment took up 12 paragraphs, stories can work their
magic in just one paragraph or even just one sentence.
One famous story attributed to Ernest Hemingway consists of
only six words:
"For Sale: baby shoes, never worn."
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Friday, October 24, 2014
Business Stories - They're Everywhere
Recently a friend finished an intensive 9-month leadership training course. Her comment was "Every speaker talked about the importance of stories for communication. It was stressed that all leaders need to find compelling stories and be able to tell them." It's good to see courses designed to help leaders that include storytelling.
Yes, speaking is an important skill for leaders but if they just learn to deliver facts and figures without stories they are missing an opportunity to truly engage and educate. Learning skills of finding the important stories to support your point is the first step. Crafting the story to include the important facts and figures is the next step. Finally, learning to deliver the story in an engaging manner is the third step.
Delivering a good story is easiest if the story is authentic to the leader. That means it is something he/she believes in or has experienced first hand. It is easiest to tell your own story but others' will work if the tale resonates.
There are books to help, but the best way to learn is by doing. Try telling some stories around the dinner table, then maybe weave stories into your next speech and then look for when stories are appropriate at your next C-level meetings or board meetings. Done right, they are time savers not digressions.
Yes, speaking is an important skill for leaders but if they just learn to deliver facts and figures without stories they are missing an opportunity to truly engage and educate. Learning skills of finding the important stories to support your point is the first step. Crafting the story to include the important facts and figures is the next step. Finally, learning to deliver the story in an engaging manner is the third step.
Delivering a good story is easiest if the story is authentic to the leader. That means it is something he/she believes in or has experienced first hand. It is easiest to tell your own story but others' will work if the tale resonates.
There are books to help, but the best way to learn is by doing. Try telling some stories around the dinner table, then maybe weave stories into your next speech and then look for when stories are appropriate at your next C-level meetings or board meetings. Done right, they are time savers not digressions.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Business Storytelling - The Power of Stories
Alan Weiss, successful speaker, author, consultant, writes a Monday Morning Memo with tips "to help readers to thrive." A friend forwarded his April 7, 2014 post. He suggests using stories as a shortcut to comprehension. Then he writes "People identify with personal stories, put themselves in the exact
place you want them to be. At Princeton, neuroscientist Uri Hasson's research shows
that brain patterns of listeners can change to be consistent with those of the
speaker when a story is emotionally captivating."
Stories stick, making our messages more memorable. The next time you have a presentation to do or are hoping to persuade people to your way of thinking, use a story.
Stories stick, making our messages more memorable. The next time you have a presentation to do or are hoping to persuade people to your way of thinking, use a story.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Business Storytelling - The # 1 Business Skill of the Future
Here is a link to a great article about the future of storytelling in business. The article points out that storytelling is a current buzzword in business and marketing and yet it has been around for years. I think we got away from true business storytelling when technology became easily accessible. PowerPoint ruled the day with fact, figures and fatigue.
Although I do not watch the show regularly, the article made me think of Shark Tank. I wonder how many people get turned down because they spend their time trying to convince the sharks with facts and figures instead of a good story. Something to think about if you are planning on trying out for the show.
Check out the article and let me know what you think.
Although I do not watch the show regularly, the article made me think of Shark Tank. I wonder how many people get turned down because they spend their time trying to convince the sharks with facts and figures instead of a good story. Something to think about if you are planning on trying out for the show.
Check out the article and let me know what you think.
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