A Quarter for a Tale

Learn Storytelling Techniques from Magic Johnson at the Michael Jackson Memorial Service

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:58:48 PDT

Magic Johnson Teaches How to Tell A Story

Sometimes there are surprise moments when some rather public storytelling skills are demonstrated very well.

It is common to see public figures fail at storytelling. However, at the Michael Jackson Memorial service, entrepreneur and former professional basketball player Earvin "Magic" Johnson demonstrated a command of and elegance to his story. Although many speakers spoke at "MJ's" funeral, Magic's few moments stand out.

Here are 4 things that anyone who wants to use storytelling can learn from Magic's story.

1. His story was brief. I am sure that Mr. Johnson may have had more to say, but he cut through the extraneous details and went directly to his point, taking the audience with him as he experienced the wonder he felt as Michael Jackson ate KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) with him one night many years ago. Ironic as it may sound, the purpose of being a storyteller is not to talk words but rather to communicate ideas.

2. It was a story told in the "voice of the people." I have watched and commented on many public speakers, especially politicians, who try to speak "to the people." In the Jackson memorial, Magic Johnson used an important storytelling technique: talk so people understand. His words were simple. His illustrations were accessible to all as he talked about family gatherings, dinners, playing games with family, celebrity-meeting nerves and eventually, something as simple as a fast-food icon: a bucket of chicken.

As a pro-basketball star, Magic could have easily made sports references. However, no sports reference would speak to such a wide range of listeners as his family references did. Choosing to speak to your audience so they understand rather than using self-serving references is a sign of a mature and effective speaker.

3. In his story, he laughed at himself. Magic's story was not to tell people how wonderful he was but rather to share how wonderful he thought Michael Jackson was. A good storyteller can reflect the focus on the story and the subject of the story.

4. His story was actually a story. It contained a beginning, a middle and an end. Magic did not tell an anecdote: "I once sat on Michael Jackson's carpet and ate KFC with him. Wasn't that cool?" Rather, he placed his story in the context of a developing relationship with the family and the invitation to dinner. Without being sappy or manipulative, he shared his own feelings about the invite and his surprise to discover his idol ate "real food" like everyone else.

His story supported this expression of hope for the future. At the end of his comments, when he referred to Michael's children having family support, you knew his point of reference to make such a statement.

Although in the past Magic has been critiqued for his speaking style, his presentation at the MJ funeral was a good example for any speaker striving to improve their storytelling skills for business or personal use.

****
Sean Buvala is a public speaking coach who specializes in helping you tell your core story. For free Email lessons, please see www.storytelling101.com .

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Corporate Storytelling Techniques: Five Ways to Convey Your Passion

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:02:17 PDT

Corporate Storytelling Techniques: Five Ways to Convey Your Passion

Stories are being told about your company all the time. Unless you have never had a customer, someone somewhere is talking about your company. When they do so, they are speaking with passion either for or against your business. You need to have your passionate stories ready to add to that conversation. To create raving fans in your business, you need to be a raving business.

When a customer experiences your company, they leave with an impression. If they were offended, hurt or feel they did not get good value, they will passionately talk about (create the story of) their perceptions of your business. Likewise, if you exceeded their expectations, they will also talk about that story. When a person hears one of these customer stories about your business, do you have your own equally passionate company stories to counter or confirm? Can your customers find these passionate stories on your website via video or audio links?

Here are five storytelling for business tips to help you express your passion:

1. Do not be afraid to be full of passion about your product or service. For example, I am always amazed at the way small brick-and-mortar business owners can be so alive and excited about their offerings but yet have zero expressions of that anywhere on their websites, other advertising or in casual conversations. Real passion ignites real passion. Don't tell me that you're "passionate about the perfect cup of coffee" at your coffee shop. Rather, through business storytelling, show me your passion by telling me the story of how you spent a year travelling the country to find the best and most unique roasting machine. I want to see that look in your eyes as you tell me about the best/worst coffee you ever had that led you to start your own business. Let me laugh with you about your obsessive interviewing and auditioning in order to find the perfect baristas. Help me to feel your focus as you tell me about going through a dozen suppliers (and their unique personalities) looking for the perfect coffee beans.

2. Your employees are your best source of truth about your company. Train your employees in ways to gather and collect their own company stories. Then, on a regular basis, gather employees together to share these stories. The sharing of these stories must not be mandatory. Requiring employees to have a story results in faked stories. By the way, my clients will sometimes hesitate to use this story-gathering process with employees because the session will generate "nothing but complaints" from the participants. All stories have value to your company and if you are getting lots of complaints, let those stories be the catalyst for internal change. Take the cue to understand: if your staff is producing uncomfortable stories, then you can be assured that your customers are unhappy, too.

3. If your company is very large with multiple locations or large departments, start your storytelling process in just one section of the company. Nothing squashes passion more than yet another management project that "we are all going to do." Choose one department and let them be the first group to experience the power of business storytelling. Once they have learned and applied storytelling techniques successfully, then other departments or locations will want to join in.

4. The elevator speech is dead. For any size company, learn to tell each of your stories in a variety of time formats such as two minutes, six minutes or fifteen minutes. Always be ready to tell potential customers about your work. Your preparedness will help convey your passion.

5. Remember that storytelling is a person-to-person experience. Take every opportunity to be in front of customers or employees to tell your stories. Digital storytelling, print advertisements and social media are all fine tools, but they can never replace the benefits of experiencing your story passionately told live and in person.

Storytelling is one of your business communication essentials. Add passion to your public speaking!

***
Sean Buvala is a storyteller and corporate coach focusing on communication skills through the art of storytelling for business. He can be reached at www.seantells.net . You may also follow him on Twitter at @storyteller.

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

12 Reasons Why Artists Should Attend the Performing Artists' Open Conference.

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:58:59 PDT

12 Reasons Why Artists Should Attend The "Performing Artists' Open Conference" This August! Please distribute!

Dear Working Artists and Friends of the Arts,

Join us this August for the first annual "Performing Artists Open Conference," where we skip the pretense of choosing workshops for you and YOU could be one of the chosen speakers- chosen by your peers.

Learn more details about the PAOC at http://www.artistbootcamp.com

Why Should Southwest artists attend?

1. Retreat #1. You need a retreat before the school year starts. Many artists (and those who support and love the arts) have their work deeply connected to the school year. So, before the new year begins in full, come spend a few days learning with your peers, taking some chances learning and presenting. In our open-conference environment, you will be challenged.

2. Retreat #2. Okay, maybe you just finished the killer "library show" season and you need to clear your mind, be with adults and think anew about your art form. You know, a shared meal table is a great place to start conversations that will make you think.

3. Real Conference, Real Close. Many artists and staff (in the West and Southwest) love the fun and professional growth inspired by conferences, but find it hard to find something local that is accessible due to issues with money, location, or relevance. Some other artists, new to being a working artist, are hesitant to spend gobs of travel money just right now. So, before you pay to jet out to across the U.S, no matter your experience, come learn in your own backyard.

4. Networking. We are not just inviting folks connected to one type of performing arts, but rather all performing arts. Sit next to someone who does something you do not do. Explain what you do. Learn what they do. Create a collaboration and invite us all to it if you want. Alternatively, just talk about life. Do you know every artist in the state yet?

5. Staycation. If you are in the Southwest, we are next door! Why not stay over Friday night and/or Saturday at the huge discount room rate of $79 per night? You don't have to share a room to get that rate- that is single occupancy! You can GET AWAY to focus on your art without having to do all that getting-away work. You do not have to stay at the conference hotel, but why not make it a gift for yourself?

6. New Ideas. We are asking YOU and others to bring their best presentation, discussion, performance, round table ideas. What do you want to talk about? Not ready to lead a workshop? Then- propose it anyway as a discussion group and get everyone's creative juices flowing. Come on- do not fear! DO something with your great idea. A conference like this typically lets you be affirmed in some areas and challenged in other subjects. By the way, you are not required to submit a workshop or discussion idea. Just come and participate if you want.

7. Tax-deductible? In most cases, continuing education for working artists is tax deductible. Check with your tax pro because we are not tax pros.

8. Early Bird for Everyone. Look, we want you to be there. We need at least 10 people at the early bird rate of $209 to pay for this event. Register by August 1 for this rate. You get two lunches, registration and other surprises for this fee.

9. Pay Less. Okay, you have read this far, huh? Great! Email Sean Buvala (the host and director) at sean (at) toryteller.net and put:

Secret Western StayCation Rate

…in the subject line. You will get an even lower rate and the instructions on how to claim it. Act now.

10. Pad Your Resume. At the moment, we are going to be a smaller and more intimate group. Small group= more chances to get your proposal fit in. Your proposal accepted= you can add the "PAOC Presenter" to your growing resume.

11. Honest Feedback. A conference like this has no stars, only friends and peers. Come offer your best work and ideas. Get honest feedback to your presentation by others who know the same challenges of presenting for and with artists. No need to pretend to know it all, just share what you know. Or, just absorb it all.

12. Experienced Staff. Yes, we know, this is about you, but we have been putting on events like this and others for decades. Despite the fluid nature of the event, we are totally prepared to be sure you do not have to worry about facilities or other nonsense. We've also chosen a place where good places to eat dinner (across the budget spectrum) are within walking distance for you and your old and new friends that you met back in #4: Networking.

We are not spending a zillion dollars of your money on PR. We are being light hearted and casual in this note, but we want you to come spend some time with this exciting new conference. You can reap the rewards for taking a new path at the PAOC this August 21-23, 2009.

Details:::> So- Artists and Friends of the Arts, please learn more at www.artistbootcamp.com .

See you in August,

Sean Buvala
For The PAOC staff.
http://www.artistbootcamp.com
Use Twitter hashtag #paoc09

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Sean Buvala Talks about Storytelling Techniques for Business Podcast (Guest Blog)

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:08:15 PDT

I was fortunate to be interviewed for the "Entrepreneur People" blog talk show. There is a great deal of good content in this interview, giving you an good overview of the power of storytelling techniques in business and non-profit groups. Sherry writes:

"Sean Buvala is a storyteller who teaches, speaks, and coaches organizations on the value of the story for understanding their culture, their people, and advancing their cause. Meet Sean and hear tips on the how and why of storytelling. www.seantells.net, www.storyteller.net, (33 minutes)"

You can listen in to the interview in the player below or go directly to the EP site at this link now.

To download the mp3 file, use this link here.

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Keynote or Inservice for Teachers and Education

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:54:48 PDT

I've just launched the "Welcome Back, Dragon Handlers" site for my 'back to school" or teacher professional development days. You can find this site at www.DragonHandlers.com. You can hear a 4 minute clip of me speaking to a teachers' convocation as well as learn more about this very specialized keynote for educational events. We've priced this as very affordable for any school district gathering. Please come take a look.

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Business Presentation Skills: The Elevator Speech is Dead

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:45:52 PDT

Episode Five Podcast: "The Elevator Speech is Dead"
Sean Buvala talks this week about the archaic concept of the elevator speech. The elevator speech: when you learn a singular "speech" to talk about your business with new clients and customers. Rather, Sean talks about learning the power of your story to be used in different time frames. Sean also tells you the obscure Grimm tale of "Not Much." You’ll also hear from a listener who called in to tell us his reaction to these podcasts. 10 minutes.
Listen in: Episode Five

You can find all of the podcasts in this series at at this link here.

*****
Twitter This Post Now.

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Performing Artists' Open Conference, August 2009 in Arizona

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:26:11 PDT

From Storyteller.net:

We are happy to tell you that we will be hosting the First Performing Artists' Open Conference this year in the Phoenix, AZ area.

The Performing Artists' Open Conference (PAOC): The Convention We Create Together.

2009 THEME: "We Create Together"

What is an Open Conference?
Although there are many definitions, an open conference is created by the participants. There are no stars or featured speakers. Rather, our open conference, much like the unconference idea, has workshops, performances and activities planned by the participants. If you wish, you can "throw your hat into the ring" and submit a proposal. Unlike most conferences, this PAOC does not have a committee to decide which proposals get accepted and which do not. Instead, all participants, on the first night, vote on which workshops they would like to participate in. From this vote, the rest of the conference is laid out and you'll be free to attend the workshops you would like when they are available during the weekend.

YOU could be a presenter. You will need to bring your creativity, your freshest ideas, your "best game" to this event and use your best presentation skills. Your workshop proposal might or might not be accepted by the group, who knows? Regardless, you are sure to hear other workshops that inform you of new ideas and topics in regards to the performing arts. To see the workshop guidelines, please click this link now.

There are only a few organized, large group events at the PAOC. Of course, there's the voting process on Friday. Lunch is provided each day. There is a concert of performing artists on the second night, with slots filled by names drawn by lottery from the participants who want to perform. Finally, on the last day, we will hold a large group "what did you learn and hear" process to share insights and challenges.

The PAOC is not for everybody. If you want to hear ideas that might not be getting "play" at the large conferences, then this event is for you. If you enjoy spontaneous creation and discussion of the arts with others, then come to the PAOC. If you need high levels of control and no surprises, then the PAOC will not be a good choice for you. If you can laugh and enjoy the company of other artists regardless of who is chosen to present, then we would love to have you. If you can enjoy the creative use of the conference space and are flexible, then you are going to enjoy your time at the PAOC. Without the long "juried workshops" process of other conferences, you might hear some brilliant speakers and presenters or you might not.

ANYONE can submit a proposal for a workshop. You must register for the workshop to submit a form. And if your workshop/performance/event is not selected, there is no refund of fees. Come with a thick skin, a sense of humor and just stay and enjoy your time with the other presentations and new friends you are going to meet.

Most of the workshops will be recorded in some format and these recordings will be made available at no charge on our website. You are also encouraged to "blog" and Twitter the conference as we go along.

WHEN
The Performing Artists' Open Conference
Friday 5PM through Sunday 430PM
August 21-23, 2009

WHERE
Comfort Suites Hotel and Conference Center
Goodyear, AZ (Phoenix AZ)
The conference location is easy to access from the greater Phoenix area and is about 25 miles away from the PHX airport. It's easy and convenient to get to this location. In addition, there are a number of dining and shopping options within easy walking distance.

SPECIAL: The Comfort Suites is extending a special discounted room
rate of $79 per night (plus taxes) for all participants. You must call
the hotel directly and tell them the code "storytellers" to get this discount rate.

WHO
Performing artists of all disciplines, those who love the performing arts, administrators and staff of arts programs, those who want to or do pursue the arts professionally, arts hobbyists, journalists who cover the arts, teachers, librarians and other folks we haven't listed yet. Beginners or veterans. Those who want to present and perform are welcome as are those who just want to participate as audience and workshop members. Come on out to the desert and forge some new understandings.

COST
Your registration includes workshops, two meals, concert,
chance to submit proposal (optional) and a few other surprises.
Registration numbers are capped.

$209 Early Bird Registration by May 30.
$244 Registrations after June 1
$274 Registrations after August 1

Special discounts if registered by May 30:
If you are a member of any of our MasterMind groups or an alumni of any of our previous conferences, please contact Sean at sean@storyteller.net for your costs and deadlines.

Workshop proposals must be received by August 7 to be included in the voting. Register now to avoid missing this deadline. A workshop submission form will be included in your registration packet.

Children and Non-Participants:
This workshop is intended for adults. Young persons between the
ages of 13 and 18 may register as a participant with an attending adult.
There is no registration option for non-participants.

This workshop is presented in part by funding from Storyteller.net.

You may use the Paypal button here to register for the $209 early-bird price. PayPal account is not required. Use your credit card.

Details-
You may contact us at our office at 623.298.4548 or staff@storyteller.net . More information will appear on this website soon.

To register by mail, please make your check payable to "Creation Company" and send to
PO Box 392 Tolleson, AZ 85353.
Thanks!

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Non Profit Leaders: Do Your Volunteers Know Your Story?

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:09:57 PDT

Non Profit Leaders: Do your volunteers know your story?

Yesterday, on my way into the grocery store, a woman sitting at "animal rescue" table asked me if I would like to donate to their rescue shelter. As I made my way into the store, I had both the time and the inclination to listen to her ask for a donation as my family has been connected to the work of rescue shelters for more than six years. (You can see the website at 3lostdogs.com.) As well, we have three "rescued" shelter dogs in our life. So, I am open to the idea that these volunteers were promoting. I also know that these impromptu tables are an important non profit funding source.

I asked her, "What does your shelter do?" The volunteer was not ready to answer my question. She did not know the story of the shelter she was representing. Her only answer was, "We do the adoptions at the (name of pet store)." Outside of that, she did not know what to say.

So, unlike most people passing her table, I stopped long enough to actually talk to her. I was a prime-candidate to donate money to her cause. However, she had not been trained in how to talk to potential donors. Either she did not know the story of her group or she had not been trained to speak about her organization.

This, of course, is not her fault. Her lack of preparedness was the fault of the director of her non-profit organization. It is possible that she had been trained on where to find the table that she needed, what to do with the money she collected and where to turn in the forms at the end of her shift. She was not trained in talking about the mission of her organization.

How about your volunteers and employees? Have they been trained to tell both their story of why they volunteer as well as the story of your organization? I am not talking about elevator speeches here. These elevator speeches, also know as unique selling points, are static anecdotes used to snare others. Rather, knowing the multiple stories of your organizations and how to adapt them to both casual and formal situations is a key skill for your staff, both volunteer and paid.

Here are three steps you need to follow to prepare your staff to use the power of story in your non-profit organization.

1. Collect the stories of your group.
There are a variety of techniques available to aid any organization in the collection of their stories. However, the best method is the oldest method: listen. Train your staff to think about stories. Ask them to think: what is happening/has happened that others need to know about? Find a way to share these stories at regular gatherings. Never make story sharing mandatory in any setting. Although many trainers advocate this, the pressure of "I must have a story" results in poor stories shared when your staff is under pressure to come up with anything. Stories should always be gathered in an organic or grass-roots process.

2. Train staff in the essential skills (the how-to) of storytelling.
The best investment you can make in your organization's future is to enlist the help of an experienced storytelling coach to teach your staff and volunteers to tell stories. You want your team to be able to know and tell your core or essential stories in a variety of time formats. For example, the volunteer I encountered outside the grocery store might have known the 20-minute story of their organization but had not been trained to tell it to me in a two-minute setting. She would need to know both the long and short versions. You also want your team to be able to use stories as frames for presentations that require quantities of data and shared information. Teach storytelling techniques first and save the high-level theories of storytelling for advanced classes once your staff has had success with storytelling.

3. All non-profit leadership must use stories at every gathering.
In every public speaking setting, from formal board meetings to casual walk-arounds, the leadership of the organization must fully immerse themselves in the use of story. Despite the glut of storytelling-for-business consultants available, the idea of storytelling for adults in a business setting remains challenging for many. Your leadership team, from the top on down, must clearly demonstrate the importance of story in all settings.

In even good economic times, a non-profit organization must have a strong command of their past, present and future stories. Your potential donors are interested in what their money can do in your organization, assuming your mission aligns with their values. Are your volunteers ready to speak your mission statement, not in overused mission "statement-eese," but rather in the geniune stories of your group's daily experiences?

Expressing your organization's story should be a skill for all of your staff. It is a requirement for business communication today. Consider everyone in your organization to be public speakers. Your experiences, expressed in story, are the unique features of your group. Be sure your donors can understand them.

I did explain to the volunteer outside the grocery store about my family's history with rescued animals and thanked her for the good work she was promoting in defense of abandoned animals. Her work was important and I hope she had some success in collecting funds for their rescue project. However, I knew that she was unprepared for real conversations about the work and mission of her group. I hope that the leadership of her group soon gets a chance to teach their staff to tell the real stories of the challenges and successes of their charity.

Good stories, willing listeners and a staff trained in public speaking skills are tangible assets that every non-profit group must have.

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Storytelling for Business: Three Quick Fixes

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:54:24 PDT

Three Quick Fixes to Your Storytelling for Business.

Having done executive coaching and corporate storytelling training over the last 23 years, I have seen many common mistakes from folks wishing to use storytelling for business presentations. Here are three of my quick fixes for public speaking issues.

Fix Number One: Take your story seriously.
World stories, myths and legends have endured for many centuries because of their ability to carry powerful messages in the small space of well-selected words. Use this power carefully. When I work with clients, they will often have spent many hours on their appearance, their eye contact and the slides they will project. However, they only spend minutes on story selection and presentation. This is a big mistake. There is no such thing as a simple story. Stories are powerful tools and, used incorrectly, they will explode back at you. Stories selected with care, crafted with good storytelling techniques and told with an intentional purpose will create a long-lasting impact on your audience. Your listeners will remember your stories long after the memory of your nice tie, fancy dress or overhead slides quickly fades away.

Fix Number Two: Plan the gestures you will use.
Your hands do not always need to be in motion nor held clasped in front of you as if you were carrying a bouquet of flowers. Avoid making choppy hand movements with eve-ry syl-la-ble you speak. Plan your gestures to match your story and move effortlessly and smoothly from one gesture to another. Let you hands rest naturally at your sides in between gestures. Try to avoid the finger pyramids or hand clasping between gestures.

Fix Number Three: Speak in your natural voice.
One of the best time investments you can make as a public speaker is to watch a professional storyteller speak to your target demographic of adults. You will see and hear the differences between how one tells stories to adults and how one practices storytelling for children. You must avoid the "sing song" voice of the unpracticed storyteller, who, like revered hosts of children's television programming, makes a lilting vocal pattern that sends adult audiences screaming out of the room.

Also, be aware that when you speak personal or "real" stories about your company you do not imitate or mimic the voices of others. Speak in your own voice. In most cases, do not change your voice to reflect your perceptions of the gender, race, regional origin or social status of those of which you are speaking. Mimicking another can quickly backfire on you, causing you to lose goodwill and trust with your audience.

Applying these quick fixes for public speaking will help your audience to be fully immersed in your presentation. Your storytelling, well prepared and well coached, can lower your public speaking anxiety and make you one of the best business speakers your audience has ever heard.

**
Sean Buvala ( Twitter him @storyteller) is an award-winning storyteller, experienced business speaker and executive speaking coach who helps businesses grow their bottom line and create employee satisfaction through the power of storytelling. His website is http://www.seantells.net. He offers private training and coaching. Learn about his small group, multi-day workshop at http://www.executivespeakingtraining.com .

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Storytelling Techniques Improve Your Communication Skills

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:05:28 PDT

Why Storytelling Techniques Improve Your Communication Skills

Storytelling is the "mother" of all communications. Every art form relies on Story to convey meaning. Despite this truth, many communicators only approach storytelling as an adjunct to their speaking and presenting. For this quick article, I am speaking about oral storytelling, not digital storytelling that does not rely or build on a presenter's public speaking skills. I suggest that mastering oral or traditional storytelling should be at the top of every speaker's list of priorities.

Here are three foundational reasons that storytelling helps you improve your presentation skills:

1. Storytelling teaches you to think on your feet. When you learn to be a good storyteller, telling stories to all sizes of audiences from 2 or 2000 people, you must learn to adjust your energy and pace to match the audience reaction. "Reading" or understanding the mood, energy and desires of your audience is a good communication skill at all levels.

2. Storytelling teaches you to be spontaneous. While you are learning to tell a story, you focus on thinking about your story in an outline form, or episode-by-episode. Good storytellers do not memorize their stories word-for-word and do not use notes or other ways of reading their stories. No matter how you are communicating, it is never a good idea to deliver a canned, memorized speech to anyone. As a storyteller, you learn to rely on your ability to "see" a story as it happens, letting different parts of the story take precedence at different times. You will never tell a story the same way twice just as you should never speak to an audience like any audience before it.

3. Storytelling helps you to think about the deeper meanings of your content. Almost all stories carry some type of moral or ethical message and understanding. As you adapt personal and world stories to your presentations, you will start thinking deeper about the meaning of your communications. Of course, you may or may not act on those meanings, but you will generally find your presentations more satisfying as you understand their impact on your listeners.

All cultures use storytelling. Storytelling is a universal language and a core-skill for all presenters. My best public-speaking tip: seek out learning and coaching in the art of storytelling and work stories into all your presentations.

***
Sean Buvala is a professional storyteller, the director of Storyteller.net and a nationally recognized storytelling consultant. Please see his website to learn more about his storytelling techniques for corporate training. You can learn how to tell a story through his Ebook at at www.storytelling101.com

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

How To Tell A Story

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:47:49 PDT

How to Tell a Story?

One of the most searched-for communication skills on the Internet is "how to tell a story." I would like to give you a quick step-by-step guide to this process of story telling, drawn from my 23 years of being a professional storyteller. This is the fast and quick method to learn a new story.

1. Decide on a story. Sounds elementary, but at some point, you need to find a story that you love. If you are having problems, search the Internet for some simple Aesop fables or find some good stories at a site like Storyteller.net .

2. Break the story down into an outline of events so that you can remember the episodes of each story.

You have two choices for step three. Do one or both if you would like.

3A. Write out or draw out the parts of the story. Using longhand, that means pencil and paper, write out the episodes of the story in your own words. Do not copy the story. Rewrite it in your own words. Doing this process by hand allows your brain to overcome any resistance you might have to the story. Knowing you can do this process with your story is also a way for your brain to overcome some fear of public speaking that might hinder you from telling this story.

3B. The other way to break down a story is via "storyboarding," a technique that many storytellers use. Take a letter-sized piece of paper. Fold it in half along the length. You now have an eleven inch piece of pager that looks like a taco. Then, fold the right side up against the left and then fold the same way again. When you unfold the paper you will have a piece of paper divided into 8 segments.

Starting at the top segment, draw out each step of the story. This is only for you to learn so stick figures and bad drawings are just fine. This visual method may help you grasp the story better than writing alone.

4. Begin to tell yourself the story, aloud, using your own words while looking at one of the #3 tools above. Repeat this process several times.

5. Think about the story you are telling. Are there parts of the story that do not really need to be there? Do they drag down the story? Cross them off the list or the storyboard and tell yourself the story one more time with those parts of the story removed. Again, at each of these times, you are speaking your story aloud. Let your face get a feel for the story.

6. Put your notes down and tell yourself the story a few more times. This is a great exercise to do while you are driving your car or cleaning your house. Just keep talking to yourself.

7. Call up a friend or find an associate and tell them your story. Use no notes or storyboard. When you finish telling the story to your associate, ask them if it makes sense to them. Did they think you left out any parts? This is not the time to see if they "get it" or understand the deep meanings. You just want to know if the essential delivery of the story makes sense.

8. As your confidence in the story grows, you will want to start thinking about the emotions represented by different words in the story. You may find that you wish to emphasize one part or character over another. These things come with time. If you feel better about saying "once upon a time" at the beginning or "the end" as one of your story endings, then do so. As you grow to understand storytelling even more, you will learn so many other ways to start or end a story.

9. When it is time for your story's debut, be confident. Look at your audience. Speak clearly. Slow down and enjoy the story experience. As a professional storyteller, I can tell you that it takes a dozen or more tellings of a story to find the your true rhythm and delivery for each story.

There you have it, how to tell a great story! This is a quick, get-it-now guide to storytelling. There is so much more you can learn about how to tell a story. Remember- get started today telling stories. Like a painter who must paint often to get better at painting, you, too, must speak stories often and to many groups in order to improve.

Some resources:
To get my free ECourse on storytelling, see the front page of my website at www.seantells.net. For hundreds of articles and stories, please visit www.storyteller.net. To order the EWorkbook on storytelling that includes live coaching and audio files, please visit www.storytelling101.com

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Based in Arizona, Sean Buvala is a full-time professional storyteller and storytelling consultant who works throughout North America teaching storytelling for business. Along with storytelling techniques for corporate communication, Sean is also sought after for teaching storytelling for teachers of middle school and high-school students. For more information about Sean's work as a storytelling coach, please see his site at www.seantells.net.

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Video: How to Use Gestures in Storytelling and Public Speaking

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:33:11 PDT

Here's a brand new, eight-minute video on using gestures in storytelling and public speaking skills. We are thinking about making a series of storytelling techniques videos. Storytelling for teens? Storytelling for business? This is a prototype we assembled here in the office. (I said "we" like I have a monkey in shirt pocket.)YouTube of course botches the quality of these things but you can see a High-Quality version at YouTube or I can get you the 1.7 Gig version if you want it. Don't watch it in full-screen. Eww.

Have fun watching. It was fun to make. Any of you video production people want to joint venture with me on a project? Ahem.

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Storytelling Techniques in an Eworkbook from an Experienced Storytelling Consultant.

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:18:46 PDT

Would you like to start learning storytelling techniques- right now?

Wow! We've relaunched the "Storytelling 101" Workbook as an Ebook project. You now get immediate access to the workbook in a an immediate download. I am so happy about this new facelift to this project.

I have been a storytelling coach for a few decades and I understand what people want and need from a storytelling consultant. I've packed these exercises into this workbook and you can be learning from me in just a few minutes.

In addition, you get a chance to pick the brain of storytelling trainer: ME! Buy the book and you get free telephone story coaching with me. There are also two storytelling teleseminars included in the kit once you register your purchase.

I am very proud of how we could put this "storytelling consultant" idea into a downloadable Ebook.

Please come learn more at http://www.storytelling101.com. Your purchase is backed by a one-year 100% promise of satisfaction.

Thanks for your time. Come get my book. We've got this priced right now at an amount that I won't be able to offer for long.

By the way, you can get a free storytelling Ecourse from me. Just look over there in the sidebar to sign up. The Ecourse is not nearly as in-depth as the Ebook of storytelling techniques, but you'll still learn a bunch- and at no cost.

Thanks.

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Get My Daily Tips On Twitter

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:01:00 PST

At noon (AZ time) every day, Monday through Friday, I post a a storytelling tip or concept. I have to be very succinct to get it to 120 characters. The other 20 characters are take up in the title.

Here's a sample:

Come follow me on Twitter to get these mini ideas. I am having much fun with them. My user name is @storyteller .

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Storytelling in Business Podcast: Storytelling is Not a Soft Skill.

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:38:43 PST

The next episode of our "Storytelling and Narrative for Business Podcast" is ready for you!

Episode Four: "Storytelling is Not a 'Soft Skill': Sure Looked Easy"
Sean brings you some tough-love this week to help you understand that storytelling is a "hard skill" for your business. Fail that understanding and things can go bad. Get real coaching and training to sharpen your skills.

Listen in: Episode Four

Find all the podcasts in this series on this page here.

Sponsored by: Executive Speaker Training Workshops.

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Are Videos Really Storytelling?

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:02:19 PST

Over at Kathy Hansen's excellent blog, A Storied Career, she posted a very popular video that's floating around the Internet. It's a visual explanation of the financial crisis. I truly enjoy Kathy's blog and think she's one of the few quality and consistent bloggers for storytelling out there.

I disagreed, in this case, that the video was storytelling. Regarding the video and digital storytelling, my casual comments I left were:

It's informative.
It's useful.
It's fun to watch.
It's a great video experience.
It's educational.
It's a way to understand a complex subject.
It should be seen by many people.
It's something that I am glad that I watched.
It's something that deserves attention.

It doesn't need to tagged as storytelling to make it valuable. It stands well on it's own as a powerful video that serves a good purpose. It has value as art in its use of video.

If everything is storytelling, then nothing is storytelling.

It's not storytelling.

A hammer is no less a valuable tool just because it's not a screwdriver.

This video doesn't have to be storytelling in order to still be excellent.

And it is excellent.

Kathy, you have illustrated the a real issue: Just what is storytelling?

For me, storytelling takes people. I have videos on YouTube of me doing storytelling, but the videos are *not* storytelling. They are video records of my storytelling and they pale by compare to the video quality and technique of the above video you posted.

We do a disservice to both storytelling expertise and video expertise by not treating each to its own unique charism and definition.

I can talk about the financial crisis by retelling (speaking) the stories of others or using world tales to illustrate the meaning. A program of these stories, used to frame the video above, would be a powerful evening of conveying an idea through the dual communication methods of storytelling and video.

If I had to attach a shelf to a wall, I would have different tools to choose from based on how I wanted the shelf attached. I could use a hammer, screwdriver or glue gun, for example. Each is a different way of getting to the same goal.

If I had to talk about the financial crisis, I could choose different tools based on how I wanted the audience to understand the issue. I could use oral storytelling, writing, video or dance. Each is a different way of getting to the same goal.

I shall stop rambling now.

Let's stop calling all communication storytelling. Let's recognize that there are many ways to get a message out and storytelling, the one-to-one even-in-a-crowd oral technique (or ASL), is one very exciting way. Let's not dilute everything into one single pool called storytelling. Let's value the many ways to express story.

Having practiced and taught the art of storytelling for many years, I think it's the most effective and cost effective way to communicate. However, I know that all art forms (video included) are equally important contributors to the conversation.

By the way, add Kathy's blog to your regular reading. It's that good.

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

National Professional Storyteller Brings Live, Literacy-Building Performance to Maryvale-Area (Arizona) School

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:47:07 PST

Press Release Immediate Release

National Professional Storyteller Brings Live, Literacy-Building Performance to Maryvale-Area School on Friday, February 27, 2009.

Avondale Arizona- As part of the literacy program of "Read Across America," the students at Lela Alston Elementary School in the Maryvale area of the West Valley will be treated to a presentation by national professional storyteller K. Sean Buvala on Friday, February 27, 2009 at 11:00 in the morning. The school is located at 4006 West Osborn Road in Phoenix.

As a presenter for the school's "Read Across America Program," Sean Buvala will use oral storytelling to entice the students to explore the many great books in the libraries in their neighborhoods and school. Mr. Buvala is donating the performance to the low-income school.

"As a storyteller, I don't actually read books to students," Mr. Buvala said. "Rather, through the use of the oral tradition, my stories excite kids to jump up and go directly to the 398.2 section of the library to find many of the stories I've told them. Often, at the end of my programs, I will tell students just the first half of a story. After the final applause, it never fails that students will immediately go to the bookshelves to find the final portion of the story. I have even seen a few teachers peruse the library or the classroom Internet to find the story themselves."

Research indicates that teaching children to create and communicate with oral storytelling improves reading and writing skills and test scores. Buvala stated, "Oral storytelling not only encourages kids to use their imaginations but helps with other skills such as sequencing and vocabulary development. Principals have told me that adding storytelling and other performing arts increases the overall test scores of the students. Over the last several decades, I have been honored to help bring the power of story to so many schools and certainly am glad to help Alston school achieve their goals as well."

Sean Buvala, the director of Storyteller.net with more than two decades of national experience, is especially glad to help schools in his home state of Arizona. "I travel frequently to teach in a variety of corporate and school settings. It is always an honor and even fun to do things here in my own hometown. Most recently, I did a tour of the Washington school district here and that was a very unique opportunity to be involved in my own community."

Mr. Buvala, who also teaches corporate storytelling workshops in Avondale, Arizona, can be reached at his website at www.seantells.com. For more information about the Lela Alston Elementary school, please contact their office at (602) 442-3000.

Contact Information
K. Sean Buvala sean@storyteller.net
www.seantells.net
(623) 298-4548

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The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Press Release: "Bobby Jindal's Response Speech Demonstrates Business Storytelling Do's and Don'ts." says National Storytelling Expert.

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 02:09:33 PST

Press Release
For Immediate Release

Avondale, AZ- National storytelling expert and speaking coach, K. Sean Buvala, reviews Bobby Jindal's "Republican Response" speech and offers four public-speaking tips gleaned from the Governor's presentation.

Buvala, the director of the national storytelling resource site at Storyteller.net, says, "Regardless of anyone's political preferences, the Governor's speech illustrates that stories and storytelling can be used in any type of important speech. As a corporate storyteller, I was happy to see yet another national figure make use of story in their presentation. I also think that any person using stories can learn four things from Mr. Jindal's speech."

Use intentional hand gestures. Buvala says, "The Governor uses frequent, choppy hand gestures that are synchronous with the syllables of the words he speaks. It looks as if he is conducting an orchestra or cutting onions to the rhythm of his words. Speakers should plan the gestures that they will use with their stories. These intentional movements can then enhance the stories being told instead of being a distraction."

Be careful when using "Me too" stories. Mr. Buvala continues, "While I appreciate and respect the Governor's family story of struggling immigrants, his narrative immediately following his comments regarding the president's family history both lessens and distracts from the power of the Governor's background story. In order to seem less like a 'me too' attempt at connection, the story might have served better at the end of the story. While it is a good thing that the Governor used stories, the placement of those stories must be carefully considered. "

Use tone and pacing appropriate for your audience. Buvala notes that, "Bobby Jindal's pacing, tone and inflection during his speech reminded me of a school teacher giving a motivational speech to young children rather than a thoughtful reaction intended for thinking adults. The constant head nodding, the sharp intake of breath between sentences and the higher pitch of his speaking took power away from his stories, perhaps making his narratives sound childish. I'd suggest that the Governor concentrate on slowing his pace, intentionally speak with a lower pitch and allow himself to breath deeply by using longer pauses more often.

Use stories to "frame" your presentation. "Finally," says Sean Buvala, "although Mr. Jindal's family history story might have been better placed in the speech, he does refer back to his opening story at the end of his presentation, when speaking again of his father's words. This process, called 'framing,' reminds the listeners of the central point of a talk, giving them a virtual 'frame' in which to see the ideas painted with the speaker's words."

Buvala, who teaches monthly public workshops for business storytelling, knows that stories used in national conversations help unify listening audiences. "Governor Jindal's use of personal stories allows the audience to understand the speaker as a human being rather than just a 'talking head' for an ideology."

For more information about group or private coaching in the art of storytelling for corporate or business use, please contact Sean Buvala via his website at www.seantells.net.

Contact Information:

K. Sean Buvala
www.seantells.net
(623) 298-4548
sean@storyteller.net

PO Box 392
Tolleson AZ 85353

"EXPERT CONSULTANT for the Press, Television and Radio"
Storytelling (both traditional and digital), performing artists, public speaking, corporate training, business coaching, non-profit organizations.

PROMOTIONAL PHOTOS
Promotional photos of Sean Buvala are available for download at:
http://www.seantells.com/seanbuvala_1.jpg
http://www.seantells.com/seanbuvala_2.jpg
http://www.seantells.com/seanbuvala_3.jpg
http://www.storyteller.net/sunwind/smallseanbuvala.jpg
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The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Newest "Storytelling in Business" Podcast

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:02:03 PST

Our next edition of the “Storytelling and Narrative for Business Podcast” is now available. This time around, we respond to a listener's email asking about the use of jokes, anecdotes and stories. Sean discusses the differences between each of these items as well as tells you the story of "Just Enough." Sponsored by http://www.executivespeakertraining.com/ and presented by http://www.seantells.net/.

Please send your questions and comments to sean@storyteller.net and be sure to put "podcast comments" in the subject line.

Click below to listen in!

Storytelling In Business Podcast #3

Find previous podcasts in this series at this address:
http://seantells.net/audio-and-video/podcasts/

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Falling Off The Hay Wagon: Others Pick Up the Future?

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:49:07 PST

Kathy Hansen, over at the "A Storied Career Blog" made an excellent posting about the ideas of expressing story via technology. She quotes from both the Sundance film projects and the new "The Center for Future Storytelling" at MIT. I think it is worth your time to go read her blog post at this link. It is actually worth your time to read her posts on a regular basis, in my opinion.

Top of my head, visceral thoughts about this interesting post:

They're both off the mark, in my opinion. Oral storytelling, person to persons, is still the "mother of all communication." What is referred to as storytelling in the above examples isn't storytelling. The first is filmmaking- which uses stories. The second is MIT's look at technology to convey stories. Again, not storytelling.

In no way do I disparage either the Sundance or MIT projects. I think both are needed and they do and will do good works. However, we do a disservice to what storytelling truly is when we toss about the word "storytelling" so freely.

I contend that all of the people on these projects need as their base some solid training and experiences in creating and speaking stories- oral storytelling ("traditional narrative?") as it were.

Storytelling (as person to person) was here as the foundation long before technologies sought to harness story.

As one of the first "traditional narrative" storytellers to embrace technology via Storyteller.net, I am for the use of technology to convey story. I am against the concept that technology is needed to rescue storytelling. "Traditional narrative...has been drowned out" is not my daily experience in teaching, training and performing.

What has happened is that we who practice the art have allowed our advocacy of "traditional narrative" to be drowned out. I've come to recognize this as the "hay wagon" syndrome: a rose-colored-glasses approach that says the 1970's days of the storytelling revival were the purest and most genuine when stories were told from the back of the hay wagon in Tennessee.

Some of that failure to advocate also comes from the nature of storytellers to not embrace technology to promote the art. Some failure also comes from infighting of leadership of the national organizations, especially in the U.S.

Finally, I think you ask a valid question about "losing meaning." More than losing meaning, I think stories when presented solely via technology are losing the engagement of the audience. Watching a story happen on film or otherwise delivered via technology requires zero engagement on the part of the viewer. The viewer becomes passive, with the story and its images poured into the head.

As an example: "The Dark Knight," the Batman movie, wanted to talk about the nature of evil. Since it was on film, there was no place for me to engage in that conversation. The movie showed it all to me, made my decisions about images, tried to tell me when to be scared and when to be happy. I loved the movie, but I didn't need to be there for the one-way story to happen. I know now the opinion of the director about a story but was not part of the storytelling.

In "traditional storytelling" I very much need my audience to co-create with me. You can see my short reflection article "Listening Sideways" for a little more about adolescents as co-creator of story. The link is http://storyteller.net/articles/206 .

Kathy, you do a great job making links and conversation points in your blog. Thanks very much.

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Storytelling in Business Podcast #2

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 13:36:34 PST

Our next edition of the "Storytelling and Narrative for Business Podcast" is now available.

This week, "What Did the Plumber Know?" and Sean is talking about telling an old-hat or familiar story for your business. Sponsored by http://www.executivespeakertraining.com/ and presented by http://www.seantells.net/.

Listen in:
Storytelling and Narrative for Business Podcast #2

Send us your thoughts and questions in the comments below or find Sean at http://www.twitter.com/storyteller .

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

New "Storytelling in Business" Podcast!

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:47:00 PST

Sponsored by our Ancient Secret of Public Speaking Workshop, I've kicked off the new "Storytelling in Business" podcast. I'm aiming to release a new edition at least every two weeks for this fast-paced, quick listen podcast. Come enjoy it.

And, send me your questions about storytelling in/for: business, coaching, corporate training and public speaking. I'll work them into the line up.

First Edition (mp3) is here:

Episode One: The Guy in the Bathroom

BTW, if you take yourself too seriously, this is not the podcast for you.

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

MasterMind Group Forming for Working Performing Artists.

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:44:42 PST

Working Performing Artists: Let's grow your career in 2009! Join us for our next Mastermind Group.

If you’d like to know more about the Storyteller.net Working Artist Mastermind Groups, we have recorded a Q/A (Question and Answer) Session. You can listen in (mp3 file) at this link now.

If you are interested in the first 2009 group (which begins next week), for a future group or just for giggles, then please take a listen to this podcast. You might even learn a thing or two in the QA session even if you don’t join us for the program.

In this recorded call, we talk about:

-the background reasons for forming this group for working artists
-why artists want fast growth education vs. slow growth
-the powers of a Master Mind on your career
-who would make up the members of a Mastermind group
-the typical contents of a group like this
-the real power of the group: accountability
-more about the optional live gatherings
-what a peer review is
-compare and contrast short training vs. long term groups
-unique characteristics of the Mastermind model
-costs and fees

Our next group begins next week. After that, there may or may not be another group beginning in the Spring of 2009.

Interested in more? Contact Sean at sean@storyteller.net and be sure your subject line includes the words “Mastermind Information.”

As of this writing, 2 spaces remain for the group that begins next week. This group is guaranteed to happen. The price increases on Friday. Act now, please.

You can listen in (mp3 file) at this link now.

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Overhaul to Executive Speaker Training Workshop

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:12:53 PST

I've just posted a major overhaul to the website for the "Ancient Secret of Public Speaking" workshop at http://www.executivespeakertraining.com . Please come take a look. I am still building and tweaking, but I think the new format is much nicer and more user friendly. Come join us in Arizona sometime.

The official blog for K. Sean Buvala, storyteller and storytelling coach.

Expert Hails Disney’s New Movie "Bedtime Stories" for featuring the Number One Success Skill for Parents to Presidents.

sean@storyteller.net (K. Sean Buvala) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:14:11 PST

For Immediate Release

Avondale, AZ- "Telling stories, that is using imagination and seeing situations from new perspectives, is the number one success skill for anyone, from parents to presidents," says K. Sean Buvala, the executive director of Storyteller.net and a national speaking coach for companies and their employees.

"Disney’s new movie ’Bedtime Stories’ of course illustrates the power of storytelling to and with children, but many folks also can learn to use storytelling as their primary tool for expressing the dreams, goals and successes of their business life. The essential concepts used for sharing storytelling with children come into play in any business situation. In the end, the only thing that causes one business to stand out over their competitors is their company story."

Buvala, a veteran of 23 years of professional storytelling, offers five quick tips for any parent who wants to tell stories for and with their child:

1. Learn to accept and use your skills as they are.

In the minds of your children, every story you tell is perfect. So, relax, slow down and think about what happens. Every story needs a beginning, a middle and an end. Once you think of those parts, just let the picture unfold in your mind and speak it to your child. Put down the "professional" story books and tell stories from your own experiences and memories.

2. Let your children add to the story as you go along.

Just like in the movie, if your child wants to add raining gumdrops, space creatures or fire balls, take those items and let them grow in your story. That way, you teach your child to use their imagination and that their contributions to a conversation are valuable. Don’t be too quick to correct for the "right" way to have a story progress.

3. Look your children in the eye.

Buvala says, "I’ve trained parents to tell stories to their children and CEO’s to tell the narrative of their company to board members. In all cases, looking sincerely at your audience expresses interest, increases bonding and grows credibility. Give your children a gift and look at them when you tell stories."

4. Use a variety in your words, not just baby-talk.

Children, from tots to teens, best learn language by hearing it used in conversation. Avoid the temptation to use baby talk with your children. Children grow to be adults so speak like an adult, varying words as you speak. For example, instead of "fast" you might say "quickly" or "rapidly," pausing to briefly define words as you go, if needed. In many cases, children get the meaning of words from the context of your story.

5. Start communicating with your teens before they are teens.

One of the most powerful ways to communicate with teens is by laying the groundwork for conversation while they are young. Storytelling by parents teaches young children that they are important enough to be the center of attention for a few moments during each story. Storytelling also teaches children the power of words, the ebb and flow of conversation and sequencing their thoughts, tools any teenager should have.

Buvala also states these same rules apply to storytelling in business. "Everyone starts where they are with their skills. In today’s market, customers respond better to genuine sharing instead of polished advertising. Also, our business stories are ongoing and when customers can add to the story via social networking, focus groups, feedback forms and so on, they take greater ownership. Being genuinely interested in our customers’ experiences and communicating face-to-face whenever possible is always a chance for growth. Finally, it’s important from the beginning that our corporate approach be one that treats our customers with respect, never talking down to them, explaining things as needed, making a focus on customer needs."

Buvala teaches a multi-day workshop for anyone who wants to learn to use storytelling for business, sales, non-profit or family use. For more information, please visit the website of "Ancient Secret of Public Speaking Workshop" at executivespeakertraining.com.

Contact:
K. Sean Buvala
PO Box 392
Tolleson, AZ 85353
http://www.executivespeakertraining.com
623.298.4548

Keywords:
parenting , business coaching , storytelling , movie , disney , bedtime stories , family , public speaking

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