The Power of Storytelling

Captivate, Convince, or Convert any Business Audience Using Stories from Top CEOs

by Jim Holtje

Number of pages: 336

Publisher: Prentice Hall

BBB Library: Leadership, Personal Success

ISBN: 9780735204607



About the Author

He’s an American speechwriter, author, and academic. He worked at several public relations agencies and consultancies.

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Editorial Review

In recounting a story told by a business leader, it appeals to our emotional self and involves us in a personal drama with a setting, plot, and characters. It captures our imagination. Once we’re hooked, the logical brain is engaged to reflect on the lessons, the wisdom, that can be drawn from the story. Because stories engage both the intuitive and the logical – the right and the left – sides of the brain, we’re more likely to absorb and remember lessons via storytelling than through facts alone. But business—the province of concrete numbers, logical analysis, and immutable facts – is often skittish about telling stories. That’s a shame because storytelling is one of the most powerful communication tools.

Book Reviews

"The Power of Storytellingoffers a humble formula that is easy to learn and to practice. " - Portland Book Review

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Wisdom to Share

Because stories engage both the intuitive and the logical – the right and the left – sides of the brain, we’re more likely to absorb and remember lessons via storytelling than through facts alone.

Because stories engage both the intuitive and the logical—the right and the left—sides of the brain, we’re more likely to absorb and remember lessons via storytelling than through facts alone.

It doesn’t matter what profession you’re in, you need to keep up with the latest trends.

Just because you’ve doubled your staff or gotten a big promotion doesn’t mean the world is going to stop for you.

Because businesspeople have spent most of their careers drowning in so many facts, figures, data, and statistics, they are starved for stories to simplify the clutter.

These days standing still is falling behind.

Do something you’re passionate about, but don’t assume that means chasing the “hot passion” of the day.

An experienced manager knows that delegation is part of the job. Holding on to everything only holds you back.

Executives not only have to talk to talk – they must walk the walk.

In a world driven by financial metrics, many businesspeople fear that intuitive approaches like storytelling may appear too soft or otherwise unacceptable within corporate customs.

The sales process isn’t over just because the customer has left your store. After-sale efforts are important for cementing customer loyalty, too.

For teams to work successfully, each member must not only know his job, he must also be concerned about helping the performance of other members of the team.

A lesson to business leaders: Sometimes you have to follow your gut when it comes to putting the right people in the right jobs.

There are only 24 hours in the day. No matter who you are, it’s up to you to use that time well and it’s up to you to take responsibility for your actions.

Sometimes the best way to communicate is the simplest way possible: Forget the high-tech distractions – just get up and speak!

One person may be brilliant at crunching the numbers but shy when it comes to people skills. Another may be your best ambassador for culture change, but not the best person to handle project management. That’s why assembling high-performance teams and aligning them toward a common goal may be your secret weapon for business success.

That’s what every businessman needs; eyes and ears on the ground.

One of the key attributes of the Internet is its ability to break down barriers to information. If information is power, then power widely dispersed has benefits not just to the individual but to all users.

Business audiences are hungry for authenticity, and storytelling can be your secret communication weapon to give them what they want to hear.