This document discusses the importance and power of storytelling for influencing others and communicating effectively. It argues that narratives get attention, are remembered, shape beliefs, and change minds. The document then provides guidance on defining and discovering one's unique story, including identifying the origin, key events, lessons learned, and audience. It also offers tips for delivering stories, such as choosing the right voice, language, anecdotes, format, and channels. The overall message is that developing and sharing one's authentic story can increase reach and impact.

1. What’s Your Story? Defining and Communicating your unique tale for greater influence and reach Suzanne E. Henry May 2011

2. Once Upon A Time Have you ever grown tired of hearing, Let me tell you a story?

3. A Long History Modern storytellers are the descendants of an immense and ancient community of holy people, troubadours, bards, griots, cantadoras, cantors, traveling poets, bums, hags and crazy people. ~ Clarissa Pinkola Estes

4. Why Use Storytelling? Narratives: Get Attention Are Remembered Shape Beliefs Change Minds

5. EFFECTIVE Information when delivered in the form of a story transfers it from short term memory to long term memory Especially when it evokes the most powerful emotions (love/affinity, fear, sadness, happiness)

6. Common Worries If I talk about myself, I’ll be labeled a narcissist or worse, a marketer I will sound too emotional or unprofessional I can’t get my story into 5 sentences! My story’s not that great My story won’t sell

7. He/She who tells the best story wins

8. What is Organizational Storytelling? Not messaging Not discourse Not debate Not exposition Narrative that evokes emotion, connection, understanding and action

9. The Best Organizational NarrativesTake You on a Journey of Change Uncommon self-expression Authenticity Express a universal truth Give context to complexities Show a possibility Origin Contain players: hero, victim, villain Contain a turning point and resolution Make a human connection

10. What is Your Story?

11. Two Stages Define/discover Deliver

12. Define/Discover Who are you? What is it you are trying to accomplish? What prayer do you answer? What happened that launched you? What dragons or villains have you slain? What have you learned? How was (or is) your issue being resolved?

13. Know Your AudienceWhat makes your audience act? Information: They are moved by data? Do they just not know? Insight: Are they just looking for what to do? Imagination: Are they seeking to make something new happen? Illumination: Are they seeking to be changed at a deep level? From Transformational Speaking by Gail Larsen

14. The 5 Stages of a Hero’s Journey(Joseph Campbell) The “call” Venturing into the unknown The challenge “Slaying the Dragon” Homecoming/sharing the discovery & lessons

15. Delivering Identify your voice Choose your language Identify anecdotes and illustrations Format Choose channels

16. Your Voice What is the tone or voice of your organization? Who should give voice to your narrative? Who else can tell your story in your voice?

17. Your Language Power words Words to avoid Positive vs. negative Humor vs. straight

18. Anecdotes/Illustrations What has happened? (resolutions/events) What could have happened? (narrow miss) What will happen? (Armageddon) What did you make happen? (hero)

19. Format Engage their senses! Engage their emotions! Video Audio Illustrations/pictures Narrative

20. Choose Channels Media Blogging/social media Advertising Events Web site Speaking Direct mail

21. From Story to Storyteller Story library Origin story – Why are you here, what happened? Signature story – What is one anecdote that illustrates your mission? The participant story (i.e. donor) – What is the future we can co-create? What is/was the call to action? Signature statement

22. Exercise How did you start (origin)? What was a signature moment? Who has worked with you? What is your key point from the above?

23. Why was Solomon recognized as the wisest man in the world? Because he knew more stories (proverbs) than anyone else. Scratch the surface in a typical boardroom and we're all just cavemen with briefcases, hungry for a wise person to tell us stories. ~Alan Kay, Vice President Walt Disney

24. Additional Resources Books: Story by Robert McKee Transformational Speaking by Gail Larsen The Leader’s Guide to Storytelling by Stephen Denning Blogs http://tinyurl.com/FourLeafBlog http://www.ishmaelscorner.com/ LinkedIn Groups; Organizational Storytelling - http://tinyurl.com/craftingyourstory Storytelling for Business - http://tinyurl.com/storytellingforbusiness

25. Tell Me a Story! Suzanne E. Henry Four Leaf Public Relations LLC +1 434-972-7278 - office www.FourLeafPR.com Twitter: @SuzanneHenry Facebook:www.Facebook.com/FourLeafPR LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/suzannehenry Business Storytelling Blog: http://tinyurl.com/FourLeafBlog