Why You Should Attend the Summit
Why we're offering it
Over the years, Steven and Tom have gotten to meet and, in many cases, become closely acquainted with some of the most influential people in the literary and corporate worlds. They’ve heard about their accomplishments, and their regrets, and have detected a pattern: nearly all of the executives they've worked with wish that they were better communicators.
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And the communication skill nearly every one of them wanted to become better at was storytelling.
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Steven and Tom have been honored to spend decades of their lives filling that need and helping leaders and speakers add the gift of storytelling to their repertoire.
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In The Art of the Tale, they shared their insights and storytelling keys with anyone hoping to engage their audiences, elevate their organizations, and share their messages through the power of story. Now they're offering the same, live and in person.
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We hope you're able to join us.​
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Why it's unique
This summit will present aspects of storytelling that have rarely - if ever - been addressed in comparable literature or courses.
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Among other topics, your instructors will cover why: 1) practice doesn’t make perfect, 2) you should never tell the same story twice, 3) there is no right way to tell a story, 4) you shouldn’t try to memorize your stories, and 5) it’s vital to pretend less and believe more in the stories you share.
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They will also address how to use storytelling to not only illustrate your point, but to create trust, build rapport with listeners, and forge a relationship with an audience.
Course material based on Steven and Tom's book The Art of the Tale also introduces an entirely new way of understanding story, so no matter how long your stories are, you can benefit from understanding and applying the principles of The Story Cube.
Who it's for
This is a unique course taught by professional storytellers with nearly a century of experience between them.
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The principles in this course will help communicators of all stripes to become better storytellers and will also appeal to…
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…communication experts.
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…life coaches.
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…inspirational and motivational speakers.
…professional speech writers.
…teachers and educators.
…keynote presenters.
…professional storytellers.
…anyone with a story to tell or a message to share.
What We Can Do For You
We will help you to master the dynamics of effective speaking, teaching, and storytelling. During our time together, we will explore three effective approaches for tapping into the power of storytelling to engage listeners, inspire them, and motivate them to apply the life lesson you are trying to convey. As we share the key presentation tips of world-class speakers, and transformative techniques to improve your delivery, we will help you:
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Learn effective paradigms for 3 unusual presentation techniques.
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Better connect with your audience, clients, board, or constituents.
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Adapt your story to different audiences or contexts.
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Share facts and data in an appealing way.
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Use appropriate humor (and discern when not to attempt it).
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Conceptualize every story’s six main elements in an easy to remember way.
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Make the most of your preparation time to develop more effective talks in less time.
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Create story-inspired messaging that is respectful, compassionate, and inclusive.
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Avoid the six most common mistakes speakers make.
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Appeal to emotion in a way that is not manipulative but rather relationship-building.
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Identify what to avoid when telling personal stories (and what to always include).
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Shape your stories like a world-class speechwriter.
Our leadership seminars introduce an entirely new way of understanding story, so no matter what your corporate story is (or how long you’ve been telling it), you can benefit from the insights and elements of The Story Cube.
Benefits of Storytelling
Share your company’s origin story to inspire corporate or brand loyalty.
Solidify your mission, share your values, and support your vision.
Address difficult stories about your company and its past mistakes, and chart a new course into the future.
Connect with your customers or clients in a way that supports and enhances your brand.
Create a corporate culture of understanding and mutual respect.
In addition:
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Motivate your employees or constituents.
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Solidify your company’s values or vision statement.
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Develop rapport with stakeholders.
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Inform clients regarding your current projects.
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Develop rapport with internal and external clients.
Additional info
About our award-winning book The Art of the Tale
The right story, well told, can transform and impact your presentation like nothing else. Take a journey into the keys to great storytelling with two of the country’s top experts on story presentation and speechwriting. Our book explores four aspects of effective communication and storytelling:
Developing your story
It seems a little self-evident, but when shaping the delivery of your story, the first ingredient you’ll take into account is the story itself. Whether it’s humorous or serious, silly or soul searching, understanding your story and the power it possesses to connect with listeners will help you craft more meaningful and memorable messages. But what is a story? What elements does it contain? How does it differ—if at all—from an anecdote?
Connecting with your listeners
Who is your audience? Is it your board of directors? Your customers? Your clients? Your employees? Your interns? Conference attendees? Knowing who you’ll be telling your story to is as important as knowing what story you’re going to tell.
Understanding the context
Every told story is experienced within a specific context—a social encounter that has certain inherent expectations. Taking the venue into consideration will go a long way toward helping you deliver your story effectively.
Presenting with excellence
Every storyteller is unique, and as you share a story it’ll be an extension of your individual, distinctive, incomparable personality. Learn to develop your own innate storytelling skills and how to look at your experiences through a storyteller’s eyes to tap into your memories to find powerful stories to tell.