This week in the world’s #1 newsletter on leadership communication:
- How to Tell a Personal Story
- Join Me and Kidnap-for-Ransom Negotiator Scott Walker
- Maximum Viral Transmission of Your Idea
- How to Manage Up
How to Tell a Personal Story
Many leaders avoid personal storytelling like a profit warning.
When I asked one CEO about his passion, he was only willing to share that he likes football. Yawn.
I get it. It takes guts to be vulnerable.
(it’s not easy for me either, that’s why I shared plenty of failures here)
We are happy to share customer success stories and funny anecdotes.
But putting ourselves in a position where others can judge us?
Yet it is the secret sauce. It's what builds trust, forges genuine connection, and injects meaning into your communication. And those?
Those are the very ingredients of high-performing teams.
The good news: Personal storytelling isn't some mystical art. Everyone can master it.
And the best teachers are the folks at The Moth.
The Moth is a global storytelling phenomenon with live events, books, and a podcast.
They've basically distilled storytelling down to a science in their latest book, "How to Tell a Story."
So, ditch the corporate jargon and let's get personal.
Here are 7 powerful strategies I've pulled from The Moth to help you unlock your most compelling personal narratives:
1. Tap into your "multitude of stories"
Forget scrolling through social media for inspiration. Your life? It's overflowing with stories waiting to be told. Start by mining your memories for those hidden gems.
Ask yourself: "What was the first/last/worst time like?" Your story is often in your struggles.
2. Not all stories are epic
Forget the Hollywood blockbuster. Often, it's the small moments that pack the biggest punch.
It's about finding meaning in the everyday. So, zoom in. Focus on a specific timeframe and tell it in detail.
3. Structure for impact, not length
Be a storyteller, not a rambler. The Moth stories are short, punchy – around ten minutes.
Use proven narrative structures for maximum dramatic effect (see below). The key is to cut the fluff and leave out anything that doesn't drive the story forward.
4. Remember, don’t memorize
Learn to deliver your stories with confidence, presence, and genuine connection.
Never memorize your story word-for-word. You just need to know where you're going. Instead, memorize only your first and last lines. It'll keep you grounded.
5. Be vulnerable
This is where the magic happens. Vulnerability builds trust. People want to connect with the real you. They're not here for a polished performance.
Tell them what really happened and, crucially, how it made you feel.
6. Make people feel something
Ditch the boring list of events. Instead, focus on the details and evoke emotion to bring your story to life. Show, don't tell. Engage your audience's senses.
7. Transformation is key
Every story, big or small, is about change. Who were you at the beginning, and who were you at the end? How did the events change you – physically, situationally, emotionally, behaviorally, or attitudinally?
This change is the engine that drives your story.
***I created the ultimate guide of the 21 most effective story frameworks. Grab it here ***
FIRESIDE CHAT
Join Me and Kidnap-for-Ransom Negotiator Scott Walker
Scott is one of the world's most experienced kidnap-for-ransom and crisis negotiators and an expert on communicating effectively in times of uncertainty, conflict, and change.
He has helped to resolve more than 300 cases, including extortion, cyber-attacks, hijacking, maritime piracy, malicious product contamination and unlawful detention.
Plus: He was your favorite Speak Like a CEO podcast guest of 2024 when we talked about his bestselling debut book, Order Out of Chaos: A Kidnap Negotiator’s Guide to Influence and Persuasion.
Now he is back with his second book, Eye of The Storm: How to Make Good Decisions in Bad Situations, out next month.
Scott and I have teamed up for a fireside chat to discuss how to become a master communicator, have difficult conversations, negotiate better deals, emotionally self-regulate, influence and persuade others, leading without authority, and developing a resilient mindset.
It will be taking place on April 29th at 6pm CEST / 12 noon EDT.
Sign up here to not miss this chance to experience Scott live and ask your toughest questions!
PODCAST
Maximum Viral Transmission of Your Idea
I do a podcast to help you become a top 1% communicator. You should subscribe.
This week on the podcast, I talk to the person who made storytelling mainstream in business. John Yorke is a world-renowned storytelling expert, the former head of BBC Drama and the creator of the BBC Writers’ Academy.
He wrote the OG of storytelling books: "Into the Woods: How Stories Work and Why We Tell Them" and became the storyteller’s storyteller.
When it was published over a decade ago, it opened my eyes to story structures, the importance of change and turning points, and the protagonist’s internal and external conflicts that create the tension.
In our conversation, John shares how storytelling techniques – long used by writers, playwrights, and screenwriters – can be applied to leadership and business.
This is a “learn from the best” masterclass. Don’t miss it.
Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
How to Manage Up
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck trying to navigate a challenging boss or workplace dynamic, then Melody Wilding’s Managing Up is a must-read.
I recently dived into this book and was blown away by how practical and empowering it is.
What I love most about Managing Up is how Melody breaks down the art of understanding your boss’s communication style and adapting your approach to achieve the results you want.
As someone who hasn’t had a boss in 15 years, it was super helpful to have someone hold up the mirror.
Melody will be joining me on the Speak Like a CEO Podcast to share her expertise, insights from the book, and tips you can start applying right away.
Stay tuned, and grab a copy of Managing Up if you haven’t already.
Have an inspired weekend!
Best,
Oliver
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