Mind if I ask how you open a banana?
Ever watched a monkey open a banana?
Monkeys pinch the tip and the peel opens up and folds down without damage to the banana (or ego).
It’s like magic.
Storytelling in Business is a Lot Like Bananas
Folks immediately “get” the importance of storytelling in their business or nonprofit. But when they start to put it into practice, they go about it in the most unnatural way. Then they wonder why no one cares enough to pay attention.
I teach business and nonprofit leaders how to open “bananas” — their marketing, sales, fundraising and recruiting efforts — in ways that work best.
And it starts with a simple, but profound, idea — instead of trying to tell your story better, tell a better story.
Tell a story that seeks to connect, rather than express.
Tell a story that does a specific job — one that drives their strategy (and yours).
Tell a story that works even when you don’t — one supported by a carefully-designed system.
Ready for 2017?
I’ve written about and taught storytelling in business for the past few years. In 2016, I had the honor of stepping into a senior executive role with a national healthcare organization. And I’m implementing a “story culture” throughout the organization.
As we move into 2017, I will be focusing my writing on two core groups. Leaders serious about creating a story culture in their orgs. And creatives serious about serving a bigger story through their art.
Stay tuned! In the meantime, you can read through my archive of Field Notes for leaders or Root Notes for creatives.