Just Story It

This is an unusual post -- but it also reflects a side of business storyteling that rarely gets mentioned. It's the nitty-gritty side of hearing people share their stories.

All compelling stories are made up of conflict, strife, struggle, trouble and the like. It's not a story without it.

Yet the author here reminds us that it might not always be about happy endings -- and this can be just as powerful.

If our business stories are only about the successes or triumphs, are we in some ways denying parts of the soul that inform our humanity? I certainly have personal stories that don't have happy endings, yet they are still powerful for the lessons I learned that I share with others.

Hmmm -- this is a thought provoking article about storytelling. What do you get from it?

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling atwww.scoop.it/t/just-story-it

What a succinct piece this is showing the significance of story sharing to promote word of mouth marketing. Which we all love and desire.

The author, Jon Thomas, gives us nice stats of results companies have experienced using stories. And I like his point that in the old advertising model, 2% conversion was the goal. Today it is 100% engagement, and that word of mouth marketing through storytelling is the way to get there.

He then goes on to talk about how to create a brand narrative. That piece of the article is a bit more conceptual with less how-to tips. But what I do like is how he suggests sharing biz stories, and then gives examples.

Near the end of the article Thomas discusses the leap companies need to take to really stimulate word of mouth marketing. It is part of offering an experience that people will share stories about. I like how that gets me thinking!

The examples shared here are really good, and I know you will benefit from them. Yeah for word of mouth marketing!

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it 

Storytelling colleague Limor Shiponi from Isreal has done it again -- shared a slice of real life experience working with stories within a company.

This is a short story with lots to think about -- namely how working with stories in organizations opens up meaningful conversations. And usually what is shared would have remained hidden or unsaid.

And the other piece to think about in this story is how leadership can change and grow just by opening the door to storytelling. In this case, working on a company blog.

And then the last place to reflect on with this article is the role of the story practitioner. As you read Limor's story, what qualities and skills were present that created a positive outcome? 

And then of course, the story itself proves how such a short piece can pack such a rich punch.

If anyone is interested in digging into narrative practice, experiencing how complexity can be unwound with short but rich stories, and how all of this impacts both business and leadership, then click through the link at the end of the article to the Storyevolution conference coming up in May in Washington DC. Limor will be facilitating.

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelilng at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it 

This article is not about how to craft or deliver better business stories. But it is about personal qualities you the biz storyteller need to cultivate.

I don't see many articles like this, yet the topic is an important one. Author and content marketing Guru Brian Clark suggests 5 traits are essential to be able to find, craft, and share your biz stories in ways that grow your business.

The traits are:

1. Empathy
2. Curiosity
3. Observation
4. Packaging
5. Caring
6. The Why

I agree completely. To learn more about each of these -- what they are, why they are important, and how to cultivate them -- go read the article!

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it 

What a hoot! My story colleague Shawn Callahan has done it again -- come up with another ingenious use for stories in business.

Did you know stories can help you figure out whether someone is selling you a bunch of snake oil or if they really do have the knowledge and experience they say they have? 

This is what Callahan is proposing stories can do for you -- smoke out the truth. As he explains -- anyone who's puffing themselves up won't be able to share real stories about their experiences. They'll have ot make them up or tell stories of others they have heard.

To know whether someone DOES have the knowledge and experience they say they do, they will be able to share lots of stories about their work.

Read Callahan's tips for figuring out whether you are hearing the truth or a bunch of puffery. Then take the assessment to figure out if a story is really a story -- or masquerading as something else.

Thanks Shawn for this handy tip!

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it 

Aaaarrrgghhhh!! See me running down the corridor screaming. I can't believe that this kind of material about storytelling is being shared -- and at SXSW no less.

I love John Hagel and his wriitings on biz storytelling. Gotta say though, I'm disappointed with this latest twist. Now I will say, I don't know exactly what Hagel said at the conference, and the article is someone reporting on/interpreting what he said.

According to this author, Sarah Skerik who was reporting on Hagel's presenation at SXSW, stories are out, narratives are in. Sounds like a marketing ploy to me.

Why? Because Hagel is saying that stories are not participatory, that they are told to the reader from the vantage point of the teller. Then the reader moves on to other things.

Whoa -- stop the trains! This perpetuates the myth that storytelling all about 'telling'. Story dynamics demonstrates over and over again that all stories are participatory. The medium determines the degree of participation. Writing is engaging -- just less so than oral storytelling. No one simply reads a story passively. A story is being created in the hearts and minds of the reader -- especially if it is a compelling one.

Any experienced well trained storyteller -- in business or otherwise -- knows that telling is only half the equation. Listening to the audience and creating a co-created experience is the real value of sharing stories. And the secret to using stories in business is the all about listening and story sharing. That means you are listening to the stories customers and prospects share with you in return. That is highly participatory!

Hagel's next point is that narrative trumps story because a narrative can be never ending but stories stop -- narrative is always evolving, and promotes participation/engagement.

What a false dichotomy! All stories evolve and are shaped over time. Your core biz stories evolve if you are doing the story sharing and listening thing right. Your biz story -- made up of smaller stories -- is always emerging.

If we are going to talk of narrative at all, your business narrative is the accumulation of all of your business stories. And they are always in a dynamic flow, especially if you are building stories together with your clients/customers.

In the end we agree -- business marketing is moving into living brand streams. Based in clearly understanding story dynamics. Not through making these distinctions as Hagel that creates a false mythology about business storytelling.

Bottom line -- we are both saying that listening to your audience, co-creating stories, and leveraging participation are the real functions of business storytelling. That's where you need to pay attention.

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it 

Now here is a thought-provoking piece on how the language we use to describe our story activities can either constrain us or set us free.

I swear there are days when I experience being in a story war just like Jonah Sachs (Winning the Story Wars) says -- particularly when it comes to politics.

But that metaphor need not apply all the time and this article by Douglas Van Praet is a good counterbalance.

For Van Praet, using the language of war closes down our creativity. Makes sense. In response he has developed a 7-step process on how to inspire change that directly relates to organizational story work. And marketing. And branding. And leadership.

So go read the article and let your creativity flourish!

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it 

Love this post about consciously choosing which stories to tell that is slanted toward organizations.

This article comes from Britain, with British references. And some of the examples given are British companies. Hooray! We need more international examples. 

Sustainable storytelling for the author here, Ed Gillespie, is all about telling stories that sustain us. 

When I use the term 'sustainable storytelling' I mean paying attention to all that is required (i.e. structures and processes) within a business to keep storytelling alive as a sustainable activity over time.

Semantics aside, I really like what Gillespie has to say:

"...stories that empower us as heroes and capture our imaginations inspire and galvanise us into action more effectively than psychologically passive-aggressive narratives that try to guilt or brow-beat us into change."

So true, so true. Leaders and marketers -- take a lesson here.

Enjoy digging into all the links in this article and the examples of sustainable storytelling via Great Britain.

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it

My colleague Limor Shiponi in Isreal is writing blog posts as she coaches a client in story skills. Limor is a totally amazing storyteller who also works in business. This woman knows her stuff and is a deep thinker in the story world.

So it is really fabulous that she is sharing with us her client's process and her coaching input.

This post focuses on listening to the audience -- and the ability to create meaning in a story when your audience is diverse in their thinking, experiences, and backgrounds.

Limor and her client are working on telling the Rapunzel fairy tale. You will probably never tell this in your business -- yet the insights here about finding fresh meaning with a story we already know is priceless.

Then follow this link to the next installment about co-creation: http://www.limorshiponi.com/2012/12/co-creation-in-storytelling/

Thank you Limor for sharing. And yes, I agree -- the quote at the end is the best I a have also heard about storytelling!

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling atwww.scoop.it/t/just-story-it

There's a flip side to business storytelling for those who want to go there: every time you tell a story, you get to find out a little more about yourself.

What??!! you say. Yep -- sharing your stories (at the entprise or entrepreneural level) not only has an impact on your audiences, it can also impact you if you let it. 

Each time we tell a story, we share it in a slightly different way, depending on the context and our audience. If we are open and paying attention, little shifts in meaning can occur.

Maybe you've been telling a particular story for awhile and you tell it a bit differently one time. Maybe a new piece of information came through, or a new memory, or a new message. You might have walked away from that experience saying, "Oh, now I know more about what that story is really all about!"

This article, written by Kare Anderson for Forbes focuses on just this topic. But from a completely different angle! She shares an amazing story about story and personal change and new meanings. It is worth reading. And it is inspirational too!

She provides 3 steps also to get us started. Enjoy thinking about your stories in this way -- not only about the lesson to share, but maybe there are hidden meanings for you waiting to be discovered!

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling atwww.scoop.it/t/just-story-it

What a great article! It is really focused on 6 steps that create the conditions for your ideas to spread.

And guess what -- storytelling and/or story triggers play a key role. 

This post, written by Marina Krakovsky, talks about the new book by Jonah Berger called Contagious: Why Things Catch On.

Berger points out that Malcolm Gladwell in his book the Tipping Point is only half right; and that Chip Heath, author of Made To Stick really is only focusing on memorability. Both authors make incredibly valuable points and share valid insights.

But Berger focuses on what makes messages get passed along to others. His 6 elements are STEPPS: Social currency, Triggers, Emotion, Public, Practical value, and Stories.

I love the point he makes about stories and emotions. Just because your story contains emotions does not mean it will get passed on.  "We'll remember the story because it's sad," Berger explains, "but we’re not going to share it."

Will reading Berger's book and applying his STEPPS make you rich and famous? Maybe not. As he says, "But will applying them make it more likely that 10 people will hear about it rather than 9, or that your sales will increase by 20 or 40%? Certainly.”

There's a lot more to this article, so go read it.

Thank you Marina for writing such a great review. And I look forward to reading Berger's book.

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it 

What a fab video! I love how author Young-ha Kim talks about the origin of storytelling in kids, what happens to our creativity, why storytelling and creativity are important as adults, and how to get unstuck if we think we are not artists.

Anyone who tells stories (and we all do) is an artist. Kim links arts, storytelling, and play into one natural activity that we all engage in.

I've always said that storytelling is deep play. And we know it is both an art form and a science. Kim talks about what happens when our artistic side is not given expression, and what to do about it.

Why did I curate this? Because the more we can understand the creative and artistic nature of storytelling -- and its link to creativity studies, performance art, personal development, and innovation -- the better our stories become and the more influence we can build.

The video is in Korean with English subtitles that go by pretty quick. So you will need to watch and pay attention here.

But it is a delightful, insightful, and inspiring video that I know you will love.

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling atwww.scoop.it/t/just-story-it

Bill Harley is one of my storytelling heros. A professional storyteller, Bill is extremely eloquent and inspiring as he talks about the power of  telling a story live, in person.

Even my software engineering husband Tim stopped his work to listen to Bill's video as I was reviewing it.

So what has this got to do with business? It's simple:

1. Everytime Bill says "teacher" substitute "leader."
2. Everytime Bill talks about telling stories to audiences of students, think about your last presentation and the folks who remained silent and looking like they could care less.
3. Everytime Bill talks about in-person storytelling think about what you are doing technology wise with your biz stories.

Bill explains to us what is really going on.

I can't tell you how many times when I work with leaders, they just want to get a story down so they can video tape it.  Wrong move!!! And again, Bill tells us why. Technology has a place, and Bill helps us keep it all in perspective.

Thank you Bill for this terrific 13 minutes! I'm going to use this in my MBA classes and my work with leaders. Woo hoo!

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it

Business can be complex. Leadership can be complex. Certainly our culture and society is complex.

This article gets us thinking -- and includes some fabulous advice -- about how storytelling can help us wade through complex issues, make better decisions, and find a path forward.

Today. Right now. As 2013 approaches, let's continue to use stories well, to help grow and excel, instead of to diminish others.

There are wise and uplifting words in this piece and steps to take. Let's go this route. Happy New Year everyone.

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling atwww.scoop.it/t/just-story-it