Cover subtitle: Inspiration, influence, and persuasion through the art of storytelling

Fully revised, updated, and expanded, this modern classic will teach you to use the art of storytelling to persuade, motivate, and inspire in life and business Anyone seeking to influence others must first know their own story, and how to tell it properly. Whether you're proposing a risky new venture, trying to close a deal, or leading a charge against injustice, you have a story to tell. Tell it well and you will create a shared experience with your listeners that can have profound results. In this modern classic, Annette Simmons reminds us that the oldest tool of influence is also the most powerful. Fully revised and updated to account for new technology and social media, along with two new chapters on the role of stories in the development of civilization and how to adjust your story to your specific goal, Simmons showcases over a hundred examples of effective storytelling drawn from the front lines of business and government, as well as myths, fables, and parables from around the world. Whether writing a screenplay, or announcing a corporate reorganization, Simmons illustrates how story can be used in ways that cold facts, bullet points, and directives can't. These stories, combined with practical storytelling techniques, show anyone how to become a more effective communicator and achieve their goals.

This modern classic teaches you to use the art of storytelling to persuade, motivate, and inspire in life and business Anyone seeking to influence others must first know their own story, and how to tell it properly. Whether you're proposing a risky new venture, trying to close a deal, or leading a charge against injustice, you have a story to tell. Tell it well and you will create a shared experience with your listeners that can have profound results. In this modern classic, Annette Simmons reminds us that the oldest tool of influence is also the most powerful. Showcasing over a hundred examples of effective storytelling drawn from the front lines of business and government, as well as myths, fables, and parables form around the world, Simmons illustrates how story can be used to persuade, motivate, and inspire in ways that cold facts, bullets points, and directives can't. These stories, combined with practical storytelling techniques, show anyone how to become a more effective communicator and achieve their goals.

The next business revolution-using the power of stories as the ultimate source of influence and impact.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 Skip told the stockholders a story about how he had gotten mixed up while drawing electrical engineering plans for a boat building company. He had been so sure of himself that he had transposed starboard and port, which made the drawing an exact mirror image of what it should have been. #2 Story is your path to creating faith. Telling a meaningful story means inspiring your listeners to reach the same conclusions you have and decide for themselves to believe what you say and do what you want them to do. #3 To influence someone, you must first establish enough trust to successfully deliver your message. Their trust in who you are becomes the connection that serves as a conduit for your message. #4 It is human nature to erect barriers and suspicions to protect ourselves. You need to establish a connection with your audience in order to influence them. They will judge your credibility based on their judgments about who you are and why you are there.

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Most people have been conditioned to believe that business communication must be clear, rational, and objective, with no place for emotion or subjective thinking. Yet the most powerful, persuasive communication has a human element... often delivered simply and personally through the telling of stories. This book shows readers how to use personal stories to get their ideas across and create meaningful connections between themselves and their audience. Moving beyond the usual speech-openers or ice-breakers, the book gives readers a process for finding, developing, and using their own stories, including how to: * gain people's trust * use six different kinds of stories * shift from everyday thinking into story thinking * help shape group decisions and actions. Filled with enlightening anecdotes, this practical guide gives readers the tools they need to persuade, inspire, and influence others through the power of story. CEO Refresher The Best Books of 2007