Storytelling: The Secret Weapon of Communication
Summary
Great stories only happen to people who can tell them. This workshop teaches the art and science of storytelling, through interactive exercises, brief lectures, and case studies of master communicators in business, politics, film, literature, and advertising. Harvard Professor Howard Gardner calls stories “the single most powerful weapon in a leader’s arsenal.” Participants will hone their weapons with practical tools for professional and personal contexts. Regardless of your goals—someone to influence, something to sell, or simply wishing to express your own experiences with maximum impact—storytelling is an essential meta-skill with an irresistible power to capture hearts and minds.
Learning Outcomes
Communicating your story with clarity, concision, and conviction
Storytelling tactics: structure, suspense, pacing, humour, vivid description, character, imagery, style, motif, and point of view
Key frameworks for turning new experiences into compelling stories
Unleashing the hidden potential of the stories you already know
How to “workshop” stories for immediate feedback and guidance
Getting people to listen—and to keep listening
How to choose and include meaningful details
Crucial differences between written and spoken stories
How to bend the truth without breaking it: exaggeration and hyperbole
Time-tested approaches for beginnings, middles, and endings
Understanding and applying dramatic structure
How stories shape our understanding of the world, and of each other
Gauging audience reaction to revise and adapt your material
Identifying obstacles to effective storytelling—and how to overcome them
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sessions have been delivered to thousands of people across general audiences and specialized teams. Past participants include professionals with job titles like policy analyst, marketing advisor, salesperson, C-level executive, communications manager, data analyst, engineer, journalist, grant writer, digital strategist, documentary filmmaker, museum curator, entrepreneur, and many more.
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Past clients include a variety of organizations from every major sector of the economy, including every level of government.
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Pricing depends on many factors, including format, content, timing, location, and number of participants.
Click here to get a quote for your desired workshop, course, or keynote →
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• Sessions delivered online or in person
• Teaching materials (yes, even keynotes come with written resources!)
• Pre-session consultation and post-session follow-up
• Francophone-friendly instruction (participants may speak in the Official Language of their choice)
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Yes, all the time!
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All material is designed and delivered by award-winning facilitators.
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Group size has ranged from as small as three to as large as hundreds. There are different ideal sizes depending on your desired format and content.
For workshops, groups of 10-15 tend to work best, but smaller or larger groups can be accommodated.
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Bookings are generally made at least one month in advance, but shorter timelines can be accommodated.
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Yes, StoryCorp has dealt with many complex procurement, contracting, and security requirements.
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