Some powerful RESOURCES to help you around the concept of STORYTELLING:
- The Power of Story by Jim Loehr.
Already mentioned a few times. A must read. Loehr has always been one of my favorite thinkers/writers. This has become one of my ‘favorite’ books! His other book, The Power of Full Engagement, is required reading for our team. - “The Four Truths of the Storyteller”
An article in Harvard Business Review by Peter Guber, leader in the entertainment/experience world. (December 2007) This line alone ought to get you to read this article. “Although the MIND may be part of your target, the HEART is the bull’s-eye.”Also by Gruber … - Tell to Win: Connect, Persuade, AND Triumph with the Hidden Power of Story.
Good stuff. Peter Guber, CEO of Mandalay Entertainment. Guber talks about ‘STORYTELLING’ as a “Professional Discipline.” Oh yeah. Quick quotes:- “Stories are tools.”
- “Stories need to be interactive.”
- “Stories need a purpose.”
(Thus, “Purposeful Storytelling.”)
For even more from Gruber …
- You can read a powerful Q & A with Guber by Mike Hoffman in INC. magazine on the “Power of Effective Communicators.” (March 1, 2011)
- Around the Corporate Campfire by Evelyn Clark.
Subtitle says it all: How Great Leaders Use Stories to Inspire Success. - “Using Great Storytelling To Grow Your Business”
A great article by Kaihan Krippendorff. (FAST COMPANY, March 5, 2012) Here’s the shorthand:- Use lots of LOTS… Language of the Senses. When you tell a story, share the see, smell, feel, taste and hear.
- Build on your Story Spine. This comes from the Actors Institute, which suggests using a five-step structure called the Story Spine: Reality is introduced, conflict arrives, there’s a struggle, the conflict is resolved, new reality exists.
- Storytelling by Fog, Budtz and Yakaboylu.
This is more about storytelling as it relates to BRANDING … but there is still some great stuff! For example, the four elements of storytelling:- THE MESSAGE!!!
- CONFLICT (Problem/Solution in Our World)
- CHARACTERS (Who is involved? Share your own story on the visit, etc.)
- PLOT
- The Way of the Storyteller by Ruth Sawyer.
Just one of those classics about STORYTELLING. Originally published in 1942. (Believe it or not, before I was born!) Just another way to look at STORIES. - Crucial Conversations by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan & Switzler.
Not the most ‘exciting’ book I’ve read but still has some good nuggets in it around the subtitle: TOOLS for Talking When Stakes Are High. It’s about trying to discover how to communicate best when it matters the most. Foreword by Stephen Covey. - A Whole New Mind (Storytelling) by Daniel Pink
A brilliant thinker and author who clarifies and simplifies big concepts. - Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee.
- The Dream Society by Rolf Jensen.
Finally, if you just want to have some fun, pick up
- Story People by Brian Andreas.
He is an ARTIST who just makes me laugh and think. I love his work.Here’s one of my favorite lines:“I like geography best,” he said, “because your mountains and rivers know the secret.”And I love: “Pay no attention to boundaries.”
