Story Craft
January 16, 2012
The power of storytelling in business is not a new subject, but it is an under-utilized skill because oftentimes what makes a person a good leader doesn't make for a good story teller. But a good story isn't the sole property of the marketing department; instead, anyone can master some basic techniques for selling themselves or their point of view or their long-term vision through story. Here are some of the best books to help you work on your story craft.
The Modern Classic
"Simmons identifies the six stories you need to know how to tell and demonstrates how they can be applied. The revised edition offers a guide to using storytelling in specific business circumstances, including corporate reorganizations, layoffs, and diversity issues."
The Master Storyteller
"This book shows how storytelling is one of the few ways to handle the most important and difficult challenges of leadership: sparking action, getting people to work together, and leading people into the future. Using myriad illustrative examples and filled with how-to techniques, this book clearly explains "how" you can learn to tell the right story at the right time."
The Best Seller
"Peter Guber, whose executive and entrepreneurial accomplishments have made him a success in multiple industries, has long relied on "purposeful story telling" to motivate, win over, shape, engage and sell. Indeed, what began as knack for telling stories as an entertainment industry executive has, through years of perspiration and inspiration, evolved into a set of principles that anyone can use to achieve their goals."
The Picture Maker
"Presentations are meant to inform, inspire, and persuade audiences. So why then do so many audiences leave feeling like they've wasted their time? All too often, presentations don't resonate with the audience and move them to transformative action. This book helps you make a strong connection with your audience and lead them to purposeful action."
The New Kids on the Block
"Modeled after the way stories work, this book provides a unique planning process for creating authentic brand identities. It also reveals a number of concealed traps that other branding approaches often overlook. Drawing on the persuasive power of stories, the author argues that a great deal of wasted effort is put into creating advertising messages that do too much 'telling' and too little 'showing.'"
"A guide to crafting unforgettable, attention-grabbing business communications--from speeches and letters to business plans--using stories from the world's top business leaders. It's an easy-to-use reference for anyone who needs to lead, inspire, and motivate an audience in a business setting, whether they're writing speeches, pep talks, interview talking points, employee letters, or Op- Eds."
