219: The Leader as Storyteller
Make us care. Tell a story.
“If someone is telling a personal story related to their talk, then we anticipate: ‘What did this character have to face?’ We put ourselves in his or her place trying to figure out how we would deal with it.” — Debbie Danielpour
Why this episode matters
In no fewer than six recent episodes, my guests and I discussed the importance of storytelling as a critical communication tool in various settings.
• 202: Story strategizer and communication problem solver Diane Wyzga trained lawyers in the art of storytelling to enhance their arguments when standing before a judge and jury.
• 205: Documentary filmmaker Rita Grant spoke of her camera and editing room – and music – as tools to help construct a story that would move audiences.
"In the end, it is all about stories. A trout fly is only a story we invent — an explanation of what we think we understand. We tell our story to the trout and look for signs. Sometimes it convinces, sometimes it does not. But either way, we invent another story, this time to tell ourselves, about why things should have happened the way that they did. And when our stories fail, as all eventually do, we sift our failures for clues and…make up a new story, hoping to converge on some truth of the matter even as we know that is impossible, and settling as we must for the best of all possible lies." — Ted Leeson in Jerusalem Creek
• 208: Authority on fly fishing literature Steve Erhlich related how important life lessons can be gleaned from the stories of water and trout.
• 212: Environmental advocate Sue Inches is a master storyteller when speaking to legislators who hold the fate of her legislation in their hands — and hearts.
• 213: Braver Angels moderator Mary Thomas-Vallens explained how relating our personal stories can help bridge the political divide.
• 215: And storytelling and public-speaking coach Sarah Elkins helps clients understand that how they tell their stories is more self-defining than their story itself.
And one of the most important settings is that of the leader of an organization. If you’re serving in a leadership capacity at any level in an organization, and you want to motivate people to consider an idea or take a specific action, you need to be able to construct and tell a good story. Simply put, stories engage listeners in a way that the best-constructed fact-based arguments can’t. The elements of how to craft a good story are as important to you as they are to the screenwriter crafting the script for a TV show or movie.
My guest
Helping define some of the screenwriter’s tools and apply them to the leader’s role is Debbie Danielpour. Debbie is an award-winning writer of screenplays, libretti, fiction, and nonfiction. She’s also an award-winning professor of fiction and screenwriting for over thirty years at San Francisco State University, Emerson College, Boston University, and Harvard University, where I was fortunate to have her as my teacher.
The object
One of the most effective tools the screenwriter can employ is the object. We mention some great examples in our conversation, and below are two classic illustrations. As Debbie explains, “Objects are a goldmine because of their efficiency in drawing us visually into the story.”
Think of a favorite film, and there’s bound to be an object in there that plays a central role.
As a leader, what object can you use to draw your listeners into your remarks?
Previous Guest’s Update
Steve Ehrlich is co-hosting an experiential learning retreat on Saturday, October 8.
“Waters of Wisdom, Healing, and Hope — The Transformative Power of Fly Fishing and Nature”
See also Steve’s new website: Home Waters Guiding
Show Credits
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