LEADERSHIP STARTS WITH STORYTELLING
With clarity around your message, you will energize those you lead and create a vision they can buy into. But first, you must first write the story that will get them excited and ready to execute.
Clarity is key for any successful leader, so much so that top corporations, such as Micorsoft. Nike, Proctor and Gamble, Kimberly Clark, and many more, have incorporated storytelling into their leadership training programs. These companies know that before you can become a strong leader, you must first master the art of storytelling so you can communicate your vision to your team and inspire them to execute on objectives.
The power of storytelling will allow you to:
- Envision Success- lead change by identifying goals in your story and building team commitment.
- Create an Environment for Winning- create a team culture and identify values that encourage collaboration and value diversity.
- Energize Your Team- use your story to help others find passion for their work by building courage, inspiration, and motivation.
- Inspire and Educate- teach your employees key lessons and provide coaching and actionable feedback.
- Empower Others- use storytelling to delegate authority and encourage targeted innovation that supports your vision.
If you want to be a leader others want to follow, you must master storytelling and use that skill to communicate a vision that your team can support.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments vii
Introduction 1
1 Why Tell Stories? 8
ENVISION Success
2 Set a Vision for the Future 14
3 Set Goals and Build Commitment 20
4 Lead Change 27
5 Make Recommendations Stick 36
6 Define Customer Service Success and Failure 45
[HOW-TO] 7 Structure of a Story 54
Create an ENVIRONMENT for Winning
8 Define the Culture 66
9 Establish Values 74
10 Encourage Collaboration and Build Relationships 82
11 Value Diversity and Inclusion 91
12 Set Policy Without Rules 100
[HOW-TO] 13 Keep It Real 108
[HOW-TO] 14 Stylistic Elements 118
ENERGIZE the Team
15 Inspire and Motivate 131
16 Build Courage 140
17 Help Others Find Passion for Their Work 148
[HOW-TO] 18 Appeal to Emotion 154
[HOW-TO] 19 The Element of Surprise 167
EDUCATE People
20 Teach Important Lessons 176
21 Provide Coaching and Feedback 187
22 Demonstrate Problem Solving 196
23 Help Everyone Understand the Customer 204
[HOW-TO] 24 Metaphors and Analogies 210
EMPOWER Others
25 Delegate Authority and Give Permission 217
26 Encourage Innovation and Creativity 224
27 Sales Is Everyone’s Job 230
28 Earn Respect on Day One 237
[HOW-TO] 29 Recast Your Audience into the Story 243
30 Getting Started 251
Appendix 268
Index 276
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