Outcome:

• After the course participants will understand how stories and metaphors can be used in a business context to enhance communication, build connection, and increase understanding and retention of a key point or perspective.

• Participants will understand how to select and craft a powerful story which adds value, understand the impact of metaphor, and how to use language which connects with a wider audience.

• Participants will commit to using a story in a work context within 4 weeks of the course to achieve a business-related outcome and will reflect and report to their manager on the experience and what they learned.

 

Outline

• Introduction – a story to demonstrate the power of a story.

• Metaphors – a picture paints a thousand words, efficient and powerful communications that are relatable and memorable.

• Enriched Language – relatability through involving the senses, creating a shared vision, a message that resonates, a concept that feels right, capturing the essence, connecting through emotion.

 

• The place of stories in business – business presentations, client pitch, inspiring team, thought provoking, selling an idea, shared vision and understanding. (Brainstorm)

• Understanding the audience – who is it for?

• Understanding the objective - what’s the point?

 

• Pairs activity - Each choose one situation that you use a story in a work context to demonstrate a key point.​

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• Choosing the right story - What’s the story? Who’s story is it?

• Crafting the story – elements (involving the senses, characters, specificity), length, style

• Editing the story – boiling it down, sharp and to the point

• Building Rapport – being present and aligned with the receivers.

• Telling the story – get into rapport, capture attention, take the audience with you, landing on point

 

Resource

• A PDF of the key learnings will be provided.

• An electronic template for crafting the story and the post work report will be shared.

 

Proposed Post Work

• Write out your story and the parameters established in the pairs activity.

• Use the story in a work context to demonstrate a key point within 4 weeks of the course date.

• Write a reflection on using the story in a work context, the outcome, and learnings.

• Submit your written story, parameters, reflection and intention of how you can include metaphors and storytelling into your regular practice to your line manager within 6 weeks of the course date.

 

 

Optional Extra – Post Session Group Coaching

Guide participants through developing the story they will use in a work context to demonstrate a key point within 4 weeks of the course date.

Alternate between explaining / refreshing on the process step by step in plenary and working in pairs to implement the steps. 

Participants will exit the session with:

• The bones of the story and delivery plan if they have come unprepared without beginning.

• With a polished, edited story and plan if they have come with a partly developed story and plan.

 

Length: 60 Minutes

Delivery: Virtual

Participants: Maximum of 6 – even numbers ideal

Cost: $250 per session

 

 

Optional Extra – Post Session 1:1 Coaching

Guide the participant through developing the story they will use in a work context to demonstrate a key point within 4 weeks of the course date.

Explain / refresh on the process step by step and coach the participant to implement the steps and craft their story and plan the delivery.

The participant will exit the session with:

• The bones of the story and delivery plan if they have come unprepared without beginning.

• With a polished, edited story and plan if they have come with a partly developed story and plan.

 

Length: 60 Minutes

Delivery: Virtual

Participants: 1

Cost: $150 per session / or $120 per session if 10 or more are booked

 

All elements of the programme can be tailored to meet the needs of your organisation.

The Platform is negotiable however Zoom or Google Meet are the preferred platforms due to the ease of creating and managing breakout rooms, using collaborative tools such as whiteboards and both personalised and group chat.

 

The costs indicated include:

• Design, development and tailoring of material.

• Up to two session outline consults and subsequent revisions of material.

• Delivery of the sessions.

• Capturing and reporting on feedback from the sessions.