The Irresistible Power of Storytelling as a Strategic Business Tool
Harrison MonarthHarvard Business Review
beckysue
10 Steps for Surviving a Dysfunctional Family Christmas
To butcher Tolstoy, all families are dysfunctional in their own way — especially around the holidays, when stress and expectations are sky high. Being a communicator by profession, I naturally believe most problems can be solved with communication (and that poor communication is the root of most problems). Not that I always practice what I preach — … Read more
6 Steps to Delivering a Killer Presentation
Why do we continue to see so many dull, lifeless presentations? I’ve thought a lot about this problem, but the #1 reason is that speakers seem to think it’s enough just to inform an audience. But it is not. Audiences want to be entertained. Here We Are Now, Entertain Us Some may find that notion objectionable, … Read more
6 Keys to Acting Naturally in a Presentation
One of the most important factors in delivering a successful presentation is the ability to look and act naturally. If you’re stiff, uncomfortable and “not yourself,” that’s definitely going to negatively impact how your audience perceives you. There’s no magic formula that will instantly make you look and feel cool, calm and comfortable. But there are … Read more
A Full Week of Storytelling and Communication
Tomorrow morning I embark on a 36-hour marathon of travel and speaking and it couldn’t have come at a better time, as I believe I’m coming down with yet another Teddy-related virus. I can handle minor illness with a bit of Tylenol Cold and adrenalin, but a scratchy throat could prove to be a real … Read more
Story Overload: Too Much of a Good Thing
If you’re giving a presentation, storytelling can help you break down walls with your audience, earn their trust and, ultimately, influence them to do the thing you want them to do — accept your idea, approve your budget, invite you back, or hire you on the spot. But storytelling is a tool that should be … Read more
10 Fatal Mistakes Storytellers Make
Have you ever told a story that bombed? Or that just didn’t get the response you were hoping for? Don’t feel bad — it happens to everyone. But if you want to keep it from happening again, you need to diagnose what went wrong. Chances are, you made one (or more) of these fatal storytelling mistakes. … Read more
Ending My Brief Career as a Sort of SAHD
This week, Teddy turns three months old. And with Karen’s return to work, it’s also his first full week of day care. For me that means I’ve got the house to myself again. It also spells the end of any dream I had to enter the lucrative and rewarding work of professional daddy blogging. It … Read more