Skip to content
MDC Training MDC Training
MDC Training
  • Learning Solutions
    • Products
      • THINK ON YOUR FEET®
      • THE SKILLED PRESENTER™
      • WRITING DYNAMICS™
      • DECODING COMMUNICATION
      • SIX THINKING HATS®
      • GRAMMAR ON THE ROCKS™
      • LATERAL THINKING
      • ENGAGE™
      • COLLABORATE™
      • SIX VALUE MEDALS™
      • BUILDING TRUST TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS
      • SPEAK WITH IMPACT: TOYF® ESSENTIALS
      • SMARTER, BETTER EMAILS™
    • Topics
      • Critical Thinking
      • Business Writing
      • Presenting
      • Team Building
      • Impromptu Communications
    • Learning Formats
      • Workshops
      • Microlearning
      • Learning Retreats
      • Train-the-Trainer
      • Executive Coaching
  • Global Event Calendar
  • Affiliate Network
  • About Us
    • Meet our Team
    • Community Partners
    • Global Affiliate Network
  • Resources
    • Testimonials
    • Blogs
    • Corporate Catalogue
  • My MDC
Book A
FREE Demo

3 Story-Telling Tips Successful Leaders Must Know

  • Blog
Share on X (Twitter) Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email

Why story-telling?

A cursory internet search for attributes of successful leaders produced 10, top-10 lists of traits. Every single list included communication skills. What does that mean though?

Humans love stories. A compelling, visionary leader must tell stories effectively to captivate, motivate and engage organizations, investors and customers. And, via the ancient art of story-telling, we can accomplish such diverse goals as learning, entertaining and resolving conflict.

Story-telling Tip #1. Craft a crisp beginning, middle, and end

Every good story needs a beginning, middle and end. State the point of your story right up front. Don’t keep them waiting. Use a captivating question or little-known fact to invite listeners into the story. Then, introduce your main sections like an agenda. People will listen more closely when they anticipate the sections to come. In the middle, use real life examples from your own experience, for interest and credibility. And close powerfully by summarizing the main sections and introducing a call to action to keep them engaged after this communication.

Story-Telling Tip #2. Provide an easy to follow structure

Typically, covering three main points will maintain your listeners’ attention. These could be three key moments in time to anchor the story. For example: our first meeting, second meeting and final meeting. Or, set the scene by sharing stories from three locations that engage visual learners. For example, our offices in Bermuda, the Caymans and Trinidad. Or, when resolving conflict, to reach consensus, summarize three main points of view under consideration. For example, three departments: Sales’ view, Operations’ view and Risk Management’s view.

Story-Telling Tip #3. Consider different communications styles for variety

McLuhan and Davies Communications’ research has discovered that learners and listeners fall into three broad communication styles for how they prefer to receive information: factually, visually and interactively. The successful communicator can include all three in the same talk. For facts, sprinkle in some data, numbers and research. For visual effect, either use some esthetic images on slides, or simply speak in terms of concrete things that people can picture, like a beach or a home or a park. Think retirement advertisements. For the interactive style, invite questions!

 

While story-telling is ancient it is also timeless. Per Mary Catherine Bateson, Writer and Cultural Anthropologist. “The human species thinks in metaphors and learns through stories.”  So, the next time you prepare a communication, I invite you to remember the power of storytelling.

 

Susan Lynne is a Management Consultant, Facilitator and Executive Coach based in Toronto

Share on X (Twitter) Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email
Tags:Communication Skills, communication style, Leadership Skills, Structured Communication

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Archives

  • December 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2022
  • April 2022
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • January 2021
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • April 2019
  • December 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • March 2018
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • July 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • November 2014
  • May 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • August 2009
  • April 2009
  • April 2007
  • November 2004
  • October 2004
  • July 2004

Categories

  • Blog
  • Photos & Video
  • Releases
  • Research
  • Resources

Quick Links

  • What We Do
  • Global Event Calendar
  • Learning Solutions
  • Resources
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • MyMDC
  • Corporate Catalogue
  • Free Consultation

Contact Us

35 Alvin Avenue
Toronto, ON.
Canada M4T 2A7
416-928-3131
Toll-Free: 1-800-862-2429
info@mdctraining.com

Follow Us

footer-logo

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

  • Privacy Policy

Website Designed by LOGO-img

© 2024 McLuhan & Davies Communications, Inc.