The Story Factor: Inspiration, Influence and Persuasion Through the Art of Storytelling Book

Nearly everyone responds to a good yarn, and that's precisely the point behind The Story Factor by Annette Simmons. A "collaborative behaviour" consultant to public and private organisations, Simmons argues that storytelling may just be the best management tool available to modern business leaders because it exerts influence in ways that other techniques cannot. And she doesn't suggest that stories be exclusively reserved for formal presentations, either; on the contrary, Simmons shows how they can be used effectively in small group settings and even one-on-one situations. She begins by describing six basic types that can be adapted to any circumstance (Who I Am, Why I Am Here, The Vision, Teaching, Values-In-Action, and I Know What You Are Thinking). She then offers pointers for finding them, and advises that ideas be jotted down whenever they appear, built upon consistently, and practised in private until the telling comes naturally. To that end she includes helpful tips on presentation, noting that the words are only part of a package that includes body language, clothing, tone and other components. Follow her lead, and you'll likely never relate to any individual or group in the same way again. --Howard RothmanRead More