I tend to associate change with growth because of my intensive background in personal development. So I get excited about change, whether it’s individual or organizational growth. Years ago, when my tech job paid for me to get training in change management and process improvement, my favorite module was about managing resistance to change. Our … Read more
So far, we’ve talked about why stories are a powerful tool and how to use them best. Now we get to do the fun part – mine for gold and discover the stories that are relevant and meaningful for you and your audiences. You might be surprised by how many different types of stories you … Read more
Of the many communication tools leaders have to create impact and influence (such as inquiry, dialogue, presentations, data, research, etc.), storytelling is one of the most powerful and impactful. Storytelling is inherently creative, so to use it effectively, my college professor always said you have to “prime the pump” of your creativity. Today’s article is … Read more
Countless leadership articles and business school classes will tell you that storytelling is an important tool for influence. As both a professional storyteller and executive coach, I’ve seen this firsthand, over and over again. When used at the right moments, stories uplevel your influence, relationships, credibility, and ability to create real change. Leaders reach out … Read more
Someone reading this (maybe you) is going to say to me, “Sonya, my team just won’t go for including emotions in my presentation. They are too serious/professional/intellectual/busy, etc.” I hear you, but here’s the reality: Feeling states don’t necessarily have to be dramatic, like grief or rage. It could be something like feeling energized about … Read more
I frequently teach classes and workshops on using stories in business, and I always start the same way: I tell an “origin-mission” story about why I do what I do and how I got here today. It’s a quick way to do two things: 1) help my audience know me and feel more comfortable, and … Read more
Ever had your heart start pounding before public speaking? Butterflies, sweaty palms, anxiety? Everyone experiences fear of public speaking at some point. It may or may not be cognitive – you might not be having fearful thoughts – but your body can suddenly react with a host of uncomfortable or miserable symptoms. I even heard … Read more
Today I’m going to share with you one of my all-time favorite writing tips; it’s stupid simple and yet most people don’t think to do it. It will help you quickly craft a compelling story or presentation for your intended audience. It’s the trick I teach at every workshop and private session about public speaking, … Read more
Take your talk, presentation, or story to the next level of impact with these three questions.
I usually teach business storytelling to entrepreneurs or Silicon Valley businesses. So I was a bit surprised to find myself in a renovated old dairy barn at TomKat Ranch, facilitating a storytelling workshop for the Women in Ranching program. These women are first generation ranchers, fourth generation ranchers, and everything in between. They can herd … Read more