Lead with a Story: A Guide to Crafting Business Narratives That Captivate, Convince, and Inspire - Hardcover

Paul Smith

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0814420303 ISBN 13: 9780814420300

Publisher: AMACOM, 2018

Synopsis

Storytelling has come of age in the business world. Today, many of the most successful companies use storytelling as a leadership tool. At Nike, all senior executives are designated “corporate storytellers.” 3M banned bullet points years ago and replaced them with a process of writing “strategic narratives.” Procter & Gamble hired Hollywood directors to teach its executives storytelling techniques. Some forward-thinking business schools have even added storytelling courses to their management curriculum.

The reason for this is simple: Stories have the ability to engage an audience the way logic and bullet points alone never could. Whether you are trying to communicate a vision, sell an idea, or inspire commitment, storytelling is a powerful business tool that can mean the difference between mediocre results and phenomenal success.

Lead with a Story contains both ready-to-use stories and how-to guidance for readers looking to craft their own. Designed for a wide variety of business challenges, the book shows how narrative can help:

· Define culture and values

· Engender creativity and innovation

· Foster collaboration and build relationships

· Provide coaching and feedback

· Lead change

· And more

Whether in a speech or a memo, communicated to one person or a thousand, storytelling is an essential skill for success. Complete with examples from companies like Kellogg's, Merrill-Lynch, Procter & Gamble, National Car Rental, Wal-Mart, Pizza Hut, and more, this practical resource gives readers the guidance they need to deliver stories to stunning effect.

About this title

Review:

"By taking Smith's instructions to heart and becoming master storytellers, we may all avoid fidgeting, glassy-eyed audiences in the future." --ABA Banking Journal

..".provid[es] the literary tools to create great stories that can teach, motivate and lead." --Wharton Magazine

"If you are a speaker, a teacher, a friend, a pastor, a worker, a leader...you will learn from this book! PICK IT UP!" --I'd Rather Be Craving blog

..".touts the value of story telling as a communication tool for business people." --800-CEO-Read

"Paul Smith is the consummate storyteller, but he is also a generous, sharing teacher who imparts a great deal of wisdom in his book." --ForeWord Reviews

..".outlines a comprehensive, yet very practical guide to telling stories in business...a must read for anyone who engages with customers, stakeholders and employees." --CMSWire.com

..".thoughtful, meaty, comprehensive and seriously useful... profoundly straightforward and helpful..." --Authentic Organizations

..".anyone could pick up the book, understand the actionable advice, and begin telling their own stories right away." --SalesEngine.com

"Take your leadership skills to a higher level by crafting business stories that captivate, convince, and inspire!" --Management is a Journey

"Buy this book and let it help you find your story. Let Paul Smith show you how to tell that story." --PCB007

From the Back Cover:

In the world of business, storytelling has emerged as a vital skill for every leader and manager, with major companies encouraging its use as a means to sell ideas, communicate a vision for the future, and inspire commitment. Whether it's in a speech or a memo, communicated to one person or a thousand, using stories to convey your ideas allows you to engage others emotionally and to effortlessly make them remember and "experience" your ideas on a tremendously powerful, personal level.

In Lead with a Story, you'll find over 100 ready-made stories, organized by 21 tough leader-ship challenges, that will help you:

- Define culture and values

- Engender creativity and innovation

- Foster collaboration and build relationships

- Provide coaching and feedback

- Lead change

- And much more

Packed with exercises to help you leverage the stories and practical advice on crafting your own, the book introduces you to the six key elements you'll need to turn a good story into a great one: metaphors, emotion, realism, surprise, style, and, most important, putting your audience into your story to have the most impact.

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR LEAD WITH A STORY:

"Stories are flight simulators for our brains, and in this book Paul Smith brings you a story for every important challenge you and your team will face at work. If you master these stories, you'll master your challenges."

-- Chip Heath, coauthor of Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

"A compelling book that will help bring alive the power of storytelling to make a meaningful difference in your business or your life."

-- Sara Mathew, Chairman and CEO, Dun & Bradstreet

"As a marketing consultant, I'm constantly looking for great stories that bring clarity to new ideas. Lead with a Story is now my go-to source for stories that inspire change across a broad range of business challenges. This is a must-read book for any leader who wants to up their game by leading through inspiration."

-- Andy Murray, Founder, Saatchi & Saatchi-X and Mercury11

"This book offers the most storytelling success stories I've seen between two covers. It is invalu-able for any leader who wants to inspire, motivate, or persuade."

-- Annette Simmons, bestselling author of The Story Factor and Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins

"Over a hundred stories--ancient and modern, funny and poignant--and all of them thought-provoking. A great resource for any businessperson looking for new and innovative ways to tackle leadership challenges."

-- Margaret Parkin, UK-based training coach, speaker, and bestselling author of Tales for Trainers

About this edition

• Publisher: AMACOM
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 0814420303
• ISBN 13: 9780814420300
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288