"It has always been challenging to find a comprehensive development solution that helps teach employees how to create and share compelling, audience-centric business stories. This approach is grounded in real scenarios and case studies that anyone can relate to. If you're looking to up-level your skillset in storytelling and drive business conversations forward, get this book!"
--Stacy Salvalaggio, Vice President, Retail Operations, Aritzia and Former Global Senior Director, Learning and Development, McDonald's
"There's no greater skill and ingenuity to propel your career than the ability to translate data insights into clear, authentic narratives. This book is the winning formula for any executive."
--Sydney Savion, Chief Learning Officer, Air New Zealand
Introduction
Storytelling Is How We Move Business Forward 1
What two Silicon Valley-bred sisters know about business storytelling (hint: it's pure, irrefutable career gold)
Part 1
Once and for all--Let's Unfluff the Reputation of Business Storytelling 6
Chapter 1: Meet the Brain Scientists 8
Chapter 2: Data (Yes, Sometimes Overused) Is Not the Villain 16
Part 2
Ok, I'm in--How Do I Get Started with Business Storytelling? 24
Chapter 3: The Four Signposts 30
Chapter 4: The WHY, WHAT and HOW of Business Storytelling 48
Chapter 5: Your BIG Idea 52
Chapter 6: Putting It All Together: Sample Story 56
Part 3
Thanks, got the basics What Else Can Help Me? 60
Chapter 7: Push Your Story Forward with Active Headlines 62
Chapter 8: A Simple Path to Building Your BIG Idea 72
Chapter 9: Five Well-Tested Ways to Visualize Your Story 80
Part 4
Let's see the magic! How Does Storytelling Show Up in Everyday Business? 106
Chapter 10: Making a Recommendation 108
Chapter 11: Providing an Update 144
Chapter 12: Crafting an Email 162
Chapter 13: Creating a One-Pager 176
Part 5
But wait! How Do I Flex My Story? 192
Chapter 14: Audience Is Everything: A Manifesto 194
Chapter 15: You've Got Five Minutes with an Executive... Go! 202
Chapter 16: Your Audience Is Diverse.. How Can You Please Everyone? 210
Chapter 17: You're Told "Only Three to Five Slides" 216
Chapter 18: Team Presentations: Who Does What? 220
Chapter 19: When Your Audience Is Virtual 238
Part 6
All together now: Building a Common Language of Storytelling 252
Chapter 20: Fostering a Culture of Story Coaches 254
Chapter 21: Five Ways Managers Can Reinforce Storytelling 260
Chapter 22: Ready, Set, Coach! Five Tips for Peer-to-Peer Story Coaching 264
Conclusion
A Final Word From the Sisters 272
Your everyday business storytelling journey starts right now... #nomorefrankendecks
Gratitude 275
About the Authors 276
Notes & Photo Credits 277
Index 278
For over two decades, Silicon Valley-bred sisters JANINE KURNOFF and LEE LAZARUS have helped teams at the world's top brands-including Facebook, Nestlé, Marriott, T-Mobile, and Medtronic-become strategic visual communicators. As co-founders of The Presentation Company, they are dedicated to helping talented businesspeople in all functions, at all levels, bring clarity and meaning to their ideas and influence decisions through storytelling.