Lead with a story: a guide to crafting business narratives that captivate, convince, and inspire
Smith, PaulUnknown
Amacom (New York, 2012) (eng) English9780814420300UnknownUnknownSTORYTELLING; Unknown
Storytelling has come of age in the business world. Today, many of the most successful companies use storytelling as a leadership tool. At Nike, all senior executives are designated "corporate storytellers." 3M banned bullet points years ago and replaced them with a process of writing "strategic narratives." Procter & Gamble hired Hollywood directors to teach its executives storytelling techniques. Some forward-thinking business schools have even added storytelling courses to their management curriculum. The reason for this is simple: stories have the ability to engage an audience the way logic and bullet points alone never could. Whether you are trying to communicate a vision, sell an idea, or inspire commitment, storytelling is a powerful business tool that can mean the difference between mediocre results and phenomenal success. "Lead with a Story" contains both ready-to-use stories and how-to guidance for readers looking to craft their own. Designed for a wide variety of business challenges, the book shows how narrative can help: define culture and values; engender creativity and innovation; foster collaboration and build relationships; provide coaching and feedback; lead change; and more. Whether in a speech or a memo, communicated to one person or a thousand, storytelling is an essential skill for success. Complete with examples from companies like Kellogg's, Merrill-Lynch, Procter & Gamble, National Car Rental, Wal-Mart, Pizza Hut, and more, this practical resource gives readers the guidance they need to deliver stories to stunning effect.
Physical dimension
vii, 280 p.24 cm.Unknown
Summary / review / table of contents
Why tell stories? --
Set a vision for the future --
Set goals and build commitment --
Lead change --
Make recommendations stick --
Define customer service success and failure --
Structure of a story --
Define the culture --
Establish values --
Encourage collaboration and build relationships --
Value diversity and inclusion --
Set policy without rules --
Keep it real --
Stylistic elements --
Inspire and motivate --
Build courage --
Help others find passion for their work --
Appeal to emotion --
The element of surprise --
Teach important lessons --
Provide coaching and feedback --
Demonstrate problem solving --
Help everyone understand the customer --
Metaphors and analogies --
Delegate authority and give permission --
Encourage innovation and creativity --
Sales is everyone's job --
Earn respect on day one --
Recast your audience into the story --
Getting started.