This week in the world’s #1 newsletter on leadership communication:
- 5 Storytelling Frameworks Leaders Must Know
- December is Presentation Month in the Academy
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10 Steps to Build a Thriving Community
-
Smart Not Loud
5 Storytelling Frameworks Leaders Must Know
Last week I asked John Strelecky on my podcast: “How can leaders communicate better?”
His book on leadership (“The Big 5 for Life”) topped bestseller lists for over 500 weeks, so I value his opinion highly.
His answer?
Tell stories.
For years I was in denial and kept telling facts instead of stories.
The problem with that? People see you as a worker bee, not a leader.
Stories are powerful because they connect us, build trust, and ultimately drive action.
And nothing in business happens without connection, trust, and motivating people to take action.
That’s why storytelling is one of the highest ROI skills you can master in your professional communication.
Facts tell, stories sell.
Here are 5 storytelling frameworks that can elevate your communication and help you make a lasting impact:
#1 The Heroine’s Journey
This framework is perfect for stories about personal growth, diversity, or inclusive culture. It follows a journey from feeling like an outsider to finding belonging and reshaping the world through relationships.
The elements of a Heroine's Journey:
- Starting Point: The heroine feels like an outsider, disconnected.
- Call to Adventure: A longing for a place or role where she belongs emerges.
- Main Objective: Find or build a supportive, "found family."
- Type of Conflict: Faces emotional, relational, or societal pressures.
- Path of Transformation: Growth through connections, accepting help, and forging bonds.
- Return/Homecoming: Strengthens community and reshapes her world through relationships.
#2 Founder Story
Start with the spark of an idea, face the challenges, and celebrate success. This story is ideal for emotionally connecting with customers, investors, or your audience, highlighting the resilience and vision behind your brand.
Structure your founder story:
- The Beginning: The founder’s challenges and what they saw missing.
- The Call to Adventure: The spark of the business idea.
- Facing Challenges: The obstacles the founder encountered.
- Turning Point: Overcoming these obstacles.
- The Success: The growth and impact of the business.
#3 Flip the Script (by Oren Klaff)
Begin with the normal, move to a big change, and then introduce the new normal. This framework works well for marketing messages highlighting how your solution transforms the status quo.
Structure your message as a story:
- Normal: Set the stage with the baseline or pain point.
- Explosion: A big change shakes things up.
- New Normal: Adjustment and learning follow.
#4 Company Story
Showcase your company’s milestones, challenges, and impact, all tied together by a clear vision. This framework is great for company profiles, annual reports, or investor pitches.
How to frame your company story:
- Define key milestones (founding, innovation, expansion)
- Highlight moments of growth and transformation, including challenges.
- Create emotional touchpoints (e.g., customer success, founder's motivation).
- Showcase vision and mission (why the world needs your company).
#5 Leadership Story
This structure focuses on Problem → Solution → Outcome, and is ideal for showcasing your leadership in action. It’s a great tool for team-building, sharing key decisions, or explaining leadership moments.
Structure your story:
- Benefit: The positive outcome of the leadership.
- Solution: How you led others through the challenge.
- Problem: The challenge you faced.
I’d recommend you keep these on record!
For ease of use, you can access the 1-page cheat sheet of these structures here (we teach how to use these and more in the Speak Like a CEO Academy).
🎯 Pro Tip: When crafting your story, always match the framework to the message you're conveying and the audience you're addressing. The right fit will make your story resonate even more.
OLIVER'S RECOMMENDATION CORNER
December is Presentation Month in the Academy
A powerful presentation is your gateway to influence, impact, and opportunity – because with compelling communication skills, you can transform any room, win any pitch, and capture any audience.
Every professional is judged by their ability to present ideas clearly and persuasively. Why? Because in a world of information overload, the ability to distill complex concepts into memorable narratives is a critical leadership skill.
That's why December is Presentation Month in the Speak Like a CEO Academy.
It features a brand-new course on Thought Leadership and a session on mastering presentation techniques. All provided by me.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PODCAST
10 Steps to Build a Thriving Community
I do a podcast to help you become a top 1% communicator. Please subscribe on Apple or Spotify.
Want to build a thriving community but not sure where to start? Daisy Morris, founder of The Selfhood and author of Community Is Your Currency developed the framework for you.
We dive into the essential difference between an audience and a community, and what both individuals and companies get wrong about community building.
Daisy shares her 10 powerful steps to creating a thriving community, including how to find your people, share your magic, collaborate effectively, and keep the creative juices flowing.
Tune in for actionable insights from the rising star of community building – and please make sure you are subscribed to the podcast.
Listen on Spotify and Apple:
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
Smart Not Loud
Tired of feeling like you have to be loud to be noticed at work?
In her latest book Smart Not Loud, Jessica Chen dives into how to communicate effectively in a way that’s thoughtful and strategic, without having to raise your voice or dominate conversations.
It’s all about using your presence, your ideas, and your voice in a way that makes people pay attention. It’s not about dominating the conversation; it's about making your words count.
If you’re looking for a book that helps you feel confident and impactful, without shouting over everyone, this one is definitely worth picking up.
On that note...
Have an inspired weekend,
Oliver
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