When I was 8 …

Designing a session that punches home a new skill in a safe fun space is always my aim.

Challenged with a short timeframe to visit the fundamentals of storytelling in business, I reached for one specific facilitation tool that would help fast-track trust and help with learning the key elements.

We commenced with impromptu story creation – using large CCS cards to quickly piece together a workplace story.

Then we used the individual decks and told a story using one card that sparked a memory … ‘When I was 8 …’

This powerful exercise enabled people to share (in small groups) what occurred when they were 8 and how it shows up in 2023.

Crafting workplace stories wasn’t as easy (they discovered) until we captured a company timeline, recording significant events which unearthed some amazing messages culminating in the comparison to the journey on the yellow brick road in The Wizard of OZ .

What were you doing when you were 8?

How does it connect with what you are doing or not doing now?

Storytelling in business is a powerful time-saving and meaningful skill to learn and practice.

These 5 elements guide story creation and delivery:

-        Meaning – what needs to be communicated – why do they need to hear this – what’s the key reason

-        Message – what keywords, phrases, word pictures, and moral wisdom would express this reason

-        Motion – what movement are you seeking, what emotion and feeling will create action – what do you want the listener to feel/do/think/act on

-        Memory – handwrite your thoughts, craft them into a story, and practise it to recite it

-        Minute – deliver within one minute

What skills do your leaders need to effectively and efficiently communicate in business?