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

Front Cover
Basic Books, Apr 4, 2006 - Business & Economics - 299 pages
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.

 

Contents

The Six Stories You Need to Know How to Tell
1
What Is Story?
27
What Story Can Do that Facts Cant
49
How to Tell a Good Story
83
The Psychology of Storys Influence
105
Sound Bite or Epic?
133
Influencing the Unwilling Unconcerned or Unmotivated
157
Storylistening as a Tool of Influence
181
The Life of a Storyteller
219
Story Thinking as a Skill
241
Testing the Six Stories You Need to Tell in Real Life Sunrise Stories
259
Resources
271
Storytelling in Action
285
Bibliography
287
Index
291
Copyright

Storyteller Dos and Donts
199

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About the author (2006)

Annette Simmons is founder of Group Process Consulting, specializing in helping organizations build more collaborative behaviors for bottom-line results. A popular speaker, community activist, and author of Territorial Games and A Safe Place for Dangerous Truths, she lives in Greensboro, North Carolina.