168. How Story Can Change Everything in Your Career

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

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Make your message memorable.

“Immediately forgettable” — that’s how Matthew Dicks describes most of the business communication that he encounters. If you want to be remembered, he says, it’s time to tell stories.

A veteran elementary school teacher, storytelling coach, and best-selling author, Dicks knows how the right narrative can transform mundane messages into stories that stick. In his book, Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling, he explores how to capture and hold an audience’s attention, which is particularly critical for business leaders. "When we tell a story about a product or service, the people we work with, our company, we become memorable and interesting and entertaining in a way that doesn't happen very often in business," he says.

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Dicks and host Matt Abrahams discuss practical techniques for crafting compelling narratives, from setting a scene to creating suspense. “Don’t build a building. Don’t buy a machine,” he says. Becoming a better storyteller is one of the most effective ways to level up. “It’s a crazy thing for businesses,” he says.

Episode Reference Links:

• Matthew Dicks
• Matthew’s Book: Storyworthy
• Ep.50 Telling Good Stories: How to Use the Elements of Narrative to Keep Listeners Engaged
• Ep.47 Quick Thinks: How to Use Storytelling to Be a Better Founder

Connect:

• Email Questions & Feedback >>> [e-mail]
• Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
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• Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:32) - Why Storytelling Matters in Business
• (03:08) - The Essence of a Good Story
• (05:09) - Become a Better Storyteller
• (06:49) - Using Suspense in Stories
• (08:55) - Suspense in Business Communication
• (10:57) - Structuring Stories Like Scenes
• (13:06) - Relating Stories to Life
• (15:33) - Homework for Life
• (18:13) - Storytelling Delivery
• (19:20) - The Final Three Questions
• (23:25) - Conclusion