Synopses & Reviews
The missing ingredient in most failed communication is humanity. Yet the sense of human presence in communication is frequently elbowed out by dry "criteria" that obscures the real goal: establishing a true connection with your audience. Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins shows you how to use your own personal stories to get your ideas across and establish the kind of shared experience that will result in agreement. By adding an element of subjective thinking to your repertoire, you'll discover how to:
• gain people's trust • command attention • shift from everyday thinking into story thinking • amplify the points you're trying to make • manage the different interpretations that might be drawn from your objective data • help shape group decisions and actions • tell the six fundamental types of story
Filled with enlightening anecdotes, this practical guide gives you the tools you need to persuade, inspire, and influence others simply by doing something you already do every day: opening yourself up to the power of story.
"It's not as hard as you think! Annette Simmons lays out the storytelling agenda in clear, simple steps. You can (and you must) tell a story if you expect to succeed as a marketer. This book ought to help."
—Seth Godin, author, All Marketers Are Liars
"Once upon a time, story was banished from business. Then Annette Simmons came along to show us the error of our ways. This book is a smart, practical guide to tapping the power of narrative to improve your business and your life."
-- Daniel H. Pink, author of A Whole New Mind
"Storytelling is a critical leadership skill, but one that even the most talented managers neglect. In Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins, Annette Simmons tells us why we must all learn to tell a good story, and guides us through simple steps to master this important craft. If you seek to communicate with greater impact and conviction, this book is for you."
—Herminia Ibarra, The INSEAD Chaired Professor of Organizational Behavior
Review
Once upon a time, story was banished from business. Then Annette Simmons came along to show us the error of our ways. This book is a smart, practical guide to tapping the power of narrative to improve your business and your life."
--Daniel H. Pink, author of A WHOLE NEW MIND
Review
CEO Refresher The Best Books of 2007
Once upon a time, story was banished from business. Then Annette Simmons came along to show us the error of our ways. This book is a smart, practical guide to tapping the power of narrative to improve your business and your life."
--Daniel H. Pink, author of A WHOLE NEW MIND
"…reading it conveys the invaluable message that powerful presentations create, whether to the board chair, PTA or a class of high school juniors, when told through a good story."
-- The School Administrator
"It is superb and will be one of my best of the year."
-- The CEO Refresher
"Simmons is an enjoyable communicator, whether she is describing parts of the human brain or sharing an embarrassing moment…offers…professionals…help finding their voice or who need to create a voice for their organizations."
-- Technical Communiation
“…straightforward and easy to read…offers a profound insight into why presentations succeed or fail and a very concrete approach to generating more effective presentations…strongly recommend this book.”
Business Process Trends
“…conveys the invaluable message that powerful presentations create…” -- The School Administrator
“…strongly recommend this book to adult educators of all types. Although it targets trainers, the concepts and techniques…can be applied in many settings.” – Adult Learning Magazine
Review
"…reading it conveys the invaluable message that powerful presentations create, whether to the board chair, PTA or a class of high school juniors, when told through a good story."
-- The School Administrator
Review
"It is superb and will be one of my best of the year."
-- The CEO Refresher
Review
"Simmons is an enjoyable communicator, whether she is describing parts of the human brain or sharing an embarrassing moment…offers…professionals…help finding their voice or who need to create a voice for their organizations."
-- Technical Communiation
Review
“…straightforward and easy to read…offers a profound insight into why presentations succeed or fail and a very concrete approach to generating more effective presentations…strongly recommend this book.”
Business Process Trends
Review
“…conveys the invaluable message that powerful presentations create…” -- The School Administrator
Review
“…strongly recommend this book to adult educators of all types. Although it targets trainers, the concepts and techniques…can be applied in many settings.” – Adult Learning Magazine
Synopsis
Most people have been conditioned to believe that business communication must be clear, rational, and objective, with no place for emotion or subjective thinking. Yet the most powerful, persuasive communication has a human element...often delivered simply and personally through the telling of stories.
This book shows readers how to use personal stories to get their ideas across and create meaningful connections between themselves and their audience. Moving beyond the usual speech-openers or ice-breakers, the book gives readers a process for finding, developing, and using their own stories, including how to:
* gain people's trust * use six different kinds of stories * shift from everyday thinking into story thinking * help shape group decisions and actions.
Filled with enlightening anecdotes, this practical guide gives readers the tools they need to persuade, inspire, and influence others through the power of story.
Synopsis
CEO Refresher The Best Books of 2007
Synopsis
"...a worthwhile guide[…]storytelling is touted as a secret to effective leadership yet most of us are uncertain where to start."
-The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
About the Author
Annette Simmons (Greensboro, NC) is president of Group Process Consulting, whose clients include NASA, IRS, and Microsoft. She has been featured on CNBC’s Power Lunch and NPR’s Market Watch, and has been quoted in Fortune, The Washington Post , and other publications. She is the author of several books including The Story Factor.
Table of Contents
Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
PART ONE Thinking in Story
1. Story Thinking: What Does That Even Mean? 9
2. What Is Story? 18
3. Training Your Brain 27
4. Telling Stories That Win 38
PART TWO Finding Stories to Tell
5. Who-I-Am Stories 49
6. Why-I-Am-Here Stories 62
7. Teaching Stories 79
8. Vision Stories 98
9. Value-in-Action Stories 116
10. I-Know-What-You-Are-Thinking Stories 137
PART THREE Perfecting the Craft
11. Experience Is Sensory 161
12. The Gift of Brevity 175
13. Brand, Organizational, and Political Stories 184
14. Point of View 194
15. Story Listening 202
Call to Action 211
Bibliography 213
Index 217
About the Author 225