The following link was sent so I could review it and see about having this speaker present to our local National Speaker's Association chapter. http://www.thinkoutsidetheslide.com/DemoVideo2009v1a/DemoVideo2009v1a.html
I think Mr. Paradi makes some excellent points but since this blog is about storytelling let me focus on one that is germane. Paraphrasing: he says that storytelling has been used for 5,000 years by humans to train and transmit information. It has been successful and the human race has survived so why stop now? Power point presentations tend to be fact and data driven with numerous slides filled with much verbiage and/or graphs and statistics. Usually far too much for audience members to take in.
Mr. Paradi suggests instead of using words and graphs to use more visuals. Pair the visuals with headline type descriptions and tell a story. Take a look at the video, he demonstrates the principle. It is amazing how much more interesting the information is when he re-formats it.
Tell a story with your presentation. Make sure your power point tells a story too!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Business Storytelling: Fraudulent Online Patient Stories
One of the list serves I belong to just had this message.
I wrote Patient Stories on Health Web Sites Can Not Always Be Trusted,
inspired by a longstanding concern about the accuracy of online stories and confirmation that, in one case at least, stories on a health website were written by employees. I appreciate your feedback and insights. (http://e-patients.net/archives/2010/03/patient-stories-on-health-web-sites-can-not-always-be-trusted.html)
As you can see the author is looking for feedback on your impressions. I am a bit distressed but not so naive as to believe that this type of fraudulent behavior is not widespread. Customer/patient stories are some of the best ways to promote our products and services but too often the owner is the one who writes the reviews as stories and never gets true customer feedback.
That leaves the next customer trying to determine fiction from the truth. Due diligence is still appropriate and if the details sound more like a fairy tale, well they just may be. Read Lisa's article and send along your comments.
I wrote Patient Stories on Health Web Sites Can Not Always Be Trusted
inspired by a longstanding concern about the accuracy of online stories and confirmation that, in one case at least, stories on a health website were written by employees. I appreciate your feedback and insights. (http://e-patients.net/archives/2010/03/patient-stories-on-health-web-sites-can-not-always-be-trusted.html)
As you can see the author is looking for feedback on your impressions. I am a bit distressed but not so naive as to believe that this type of fraudulent behavior is not widespread. Customer/patient stories are some of the best ways to promote our products and services but too often the owner is the one who writes the reviews as stories and never gets true customer feedback.
That leaves the next customer trying to determine fiction from the truth. Due diligence is still appropriate and if the details sound more like a fairy tale, well they just may be. Read Lisa's article and send along your comments.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Business Storytelling:Face to Face Interaction
I was re-reading some old e-newsletters and came across one on face-to-face interactions making a come back. The article talked about the use of video conferencing as a way to connect people. To me this is proof that no matter how virtual we get and how digital we get we are human and crave the interaction with other humans.
Stories give us that connection, they build bridges and help us to see the commonalities we share. Like the video conferencing helping to make connections the new technologies are helping us get our stories out and shared with people. Post a blog, people read, update LinkedIn people read, post a video people watch. All people want is for someone to hear their story and more than ever people are sharing their stories, face-to-face or virtually.
Stories give us that connection, they build bridges and help us to see the commonalities we share. Like the video conferencing helping to make connections the new technologies are helping us get our stories out and shared with people. Post a blog, people read, update LinkedIn people read, post a video people watch. All people want is for someone to hear their story and more than ever people are sharing their stories, face-to-face or virtually.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Business Storytelling: LinkedIn
I just finished watching the DVD "LinkedIn for Job Seekers". There are lots of good tips included but the one that jumped out at me was Jason Alba's insistence on telling a story.
Jason, the author, believes that in the summary section on the profile page people should tell a story and use all 2000 characters. I definitely agree with him about using story but question the need for 2000 characters, that seems like a lot.
I spend a lot of time writing micro stories and feel shorter may be better. Definitely write in a story format, make it engaging, but keep it closer to 500 is my advice. Unless your story is incredibly engaging most people are not going to read the full 2000 characters. Keep it short and engaging and more people will read your story.
Jason, the author, believes that in the summary section on the profile page people should tell a story and use all 2000 characters. I definitely agree with him about using story but question the need for 2000 characters, that seems like a lot.
I spend a lot of time writing micro stories and feel shorter may be better. Definitely write in a story format, make it engaging, but keep it closer to 500 is my advice. Unless your story is incredibly engaging most people are not going to read the full 2000 characters. Keep it short and engaging and more people will read your story.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Business Storytelling: The Life of Pi
Currently I am listening to "The Life of Pi". Admittedly it took me a bit to get into it but now I am riveted. So much so I did a search on the web to read more about the author and the story. I did not want to read a lot about the story and ruin the spell but I read just a bit about the author on Spark Notes. I found the following quote "The Author’s Note blends facts and fictions about Yann Martel’s own inspiration for the book to illustrate the central theme of the book: storytelling."
I'm not sure I totally agree that storytelling can be a theme based on what themes generally are but I like the idea that storytelling is so central to humans that it is in fact a worthy theme. The story is about survival and the will to live. Can one surmise that storytelling is essential to our survival. Interesting idea to think about.
If stories are critical to survival then are they also critical to the survival of business? As long as businesses are run by and used by humans then yes stories are important to the survival of businesses.
I'm not sure I totally agree that storytelling can be a theme based on what themes generally are but I like the idea that storytelling is so central to humans that it is in fact a worthy theme. The story is about survival and the will to live. Can one surmise that storytelling is essential to our survival. Interesting idea to think about.
If stories are critical to survival then are they also critical to the survival of business? As long as businesses are run by and used by humans then yes stories are important to the survival of businesses.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Business Storytelling: Stories in the brain
Check out this short article on the way story affects our brain waves. http://www.neurosciencemarketing.com/blog/articles/your-brain-on-stories.htm
Most people agree stories are powerful but the proof has been anecdotal up to this point. I have now read several articles describing the process of brain imaging work while people are told stories. It is fascinating and finally hard proof that human brains are wired to learn from stories.
Keep that in mind as create workshops, training materials, keynotes and any other times that you are trying to make your message memorable.
Most people agree stories are powerful but the proof has been anecdotal up to this point. I have now read several articles describing the process of brain imaging work while people are told stories. It is fascinating and finally hard proof that human brains are wired to learn from stories.
Keep that in mind as create workshops, training materials, keynotes and any other times that you are trying to make your message memorable.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Business Storytelling: Steven Spielberg a storyteller
Most of you are probably reading the title and saying, "DUH! of course he is a storyteller, he's told some great stories." Recently a colleague sent me a note and in it he included a tidbit he heard while watching a TV special on the making of Jurassic Park. "Steven Spielberg is a passionate storyteller! When he gets together with family and friends, what he loves to do most is tell stories, especially ghost stories! People do say he is quite good."
I believe being able to tell an oral story is the first step in the process of using stories for entertainment (movies, books, music) and for marketing (testimonials, sales etc.) Practice this holiday season by telling stories when the family gets together. You may never produce a blockbuster as big as Jurassic Park but your stories can help your business grow.
I believe being able to tell an oral story is the first step in the process of using stories for entertainment (movies, books, music) and for marketing (testimonials, sales etc.) Practice this holiday season by telling stories when the family gets together. You may never produce a blockbuster as big as Jurassic Park but your stories can help your business grow.
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