Our Methodology
Stories have a place in business communication. To illustrate and simplify complex ideas. To align employees to common goals. And to reveal how we think and feel in challenging situations. But mastering the skill of storytelling isn’t easy. It takes a person who is willing to be transparent, vulnerable and honest. It means admitting mistakes to help others believe in second chances or sharing personal growth to encourage others to strive for results. Every story has a conflict, and a great storyteller leads you to it and helps you believe it can be overcome.
Storytelling is both an art and a science. We teach the science, and we coach the art. And that’s what allows us to help participants quickly gain competency and gradually master the skill. This program is a next-level experience for storytellers who want to engage, connect and empathize with every audience.
Content – Most listeners give a communicator about 30 seconds to set a message and direction for their storyline. An effective communicator learns how to format ideas to frame a message and set the structure quickly to keep the listener(s) involved. We teach how to organize a storyline, create a compelling message and leverage stories to be sure sound bites are heard and remembered.
Style – Personal style, is presence, the ability to engage an individual or a group from the start of a conversation. An effective communicator comes across as confident and credible, conveying a sense of commitment to their topic and a personal interest in connecting the topic to each listener. The SW&A approach to style teaches the intentional choices communicators make to deliver on those impressions.
Situational – While the tools stay the same, the situations don’t. Every communicator thinks about their audience differently from those who interact with small groups to those who deliver keynote speeches. They think about outcomes differently, too. From meetings that generate discovery to recommendations that gain approval. That’s why the third dimension of our work applies the fundamentals to specific situations. It helps a communicator shift from competence in their skills to consistent outcomes in their communication.
