Storytelling for Business Course

Storytelling for Business Programme

We tailor all our courses to reflect the needs of the delegates on the day. The course content may include many of the exercises listed below, and any additional material that the trainers feel is relevant.

Delegate Input

Each participant has the opportunity to say what he or she would like to take away from the day. This allows us to adapt the programme to make sure we meet everyone’s needs and to link the activities of the day back to the wants people expressed at the beginning.

History of Storytelling

A brief discussion on how we are hardwired to respond to stories and how they can be powerful tools to use in business.

Why we Tell Stories

People love stories and here we explore the neuroscience behine why stories resonate with us. 

Jumpstart Storytelling

Without further ado, we jump straight into the first storytelling exercise, inviting the participants to share a story.  Delegates will use a personal story chosen from their preparation which will help create a more emotionally expressive environment for the rest of the day.

Storytelling Elements

We will then unpick the stories people have told in terms of structure and storytelling devices. This will not only raise people’s awareness of those, it will also make them appreciate that they are already natural storytellers.

Sitting 'Round the Table (Campfire!)

Here delegates will 'sit around the table' weaving storytelling elements into a business idea. 

A Different Perspective

Using fairy tales and other classic stories people retell the story from one (often minor) character’s perspective.  We then look at how this impacts on the power of the story and changes how we hear it.

MIT:  The Most Important Thing

Having heard quite a few stories at this point we look at what people remember, how they remember.  We also explore the question:  Can you change the MIT?  Why would you want to?  What impact would that have?

Make the Data Convey the Message you Want

Data and facts alone are not enough. Here we look at how easy it is for assumptions and misinterpretations to be made from incomplete facts, open-ended information and pieces of the puzzle that don't quite connect. We look at how to use your data and facts to tell the story you want rather than leaving it to chance.

Storytelling Techniques

The majority of the day will be spent introducing a variety of different storytelling techniques that have proven effective in business and offering the participants the opportunity to apply those techniques to their own situations and challenges. The choice of technique will depend on the participants’ specific requirements.

Connectives

A look at how connective phrases enhance stories and can build anticipation or tension. 

Analogies

Delegates practice creating analogies that help when they have factual information/ numbers /data to deliver in order to help the material become accessible.  This exercise can also look at the ‘meaning’ behind numbers.

Story Structure

Here we introduce a variety of story structures, and we will choose three to demonstrate depending upon what would be most appropriate for the delegates on the day. 

Business Challenge

Initially working in pairs, delegates will choose a business idea for which they want buy-in.  Using one of the story structures that most fits their personal style, they will write and present a story, building a compelling case for their idea.

Summing Up and Seven Day Commitments

To draw the day to a conclusion, we reflect upon the experience (the story) of the day and the tools that were explored. As the final exercise, each delegate shares with the group their highlight of the storytelling course and how they will use their favourite storytelling tool – within the next seven days!

They also have access to a course web page containing

• Handouts used during the course
• New supportive material
• Impact Factory PDF documents
• Recommended reading
• Links to our favourite videos
• Photos of the day

to help further their progress.

Storytelling Course