Tell a Better Story: Ignite Change
By Kim LaFever
503-704-5250 or kim.lafever@positivedisruption.com
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1 in
175,000,000
I’m an introvert
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I have a fixation with
this…
I love elephants
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1 IN 175,000,000
Long Lost Relatives are Standing by…
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Everything is an Offer
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Everything is an Offer
Pair up with someone near you
Introduce yourself and shake hands
Each of you will have a chance to speak for 1 minute
Decide who will be the first speaker – that is person A
When I say go, Person B will name an item in the room and you
are to begin by talking about it
• Person B will continue to lob in words (any words) for you to
incorporate into your story
• You have about 1 minute to speak
• Then we will switch roles
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Why Stories?
Your left brain can hold roughly 7 bits
Stories help create “pictures” and allow us to remember so much more
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What and Why: Stories for Change
What is a story?
• A story is a fact, wrapped in an emotion that compels us to take
an action that transforms our world
Tell stories to:
• Capture people’s attention
• Send a message people will remember
• Establish rapport
• Build credibility
• Bring a room closer together
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Story vs. Presentation
This data shows our average store opening timelines over the past 5 years:
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2008: 9 months
2009: 8 months
2010: 10 months
2012: 8 months
2013: 6 months
We need to decrease time to open. We should hire 2
additional FTEs for this work.
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How do you get started….
• What is the main idea you are trying to communicate?
• What do you want us to DO as a result of your story?
• Many of the best stories are yours, they come from experience
you’ve had
• You have about 2 minutes to tell stories in business – get in to
the story and out
I’m an introvert
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That reminds me of the time…
1. Story, anecdote, or example
When, Where, Who, What, How, What was said…
2. Action
What’s the call to action, what do you want them to do?
3. Benefit
What’s in it for them to do so?
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Let’s mine for stories
• Use the handout provided
• Take 4 minutes to briefly write about as many of the prompts as
you can
1. A workplace challenge or difficulty
2. Pet peeve
3. Office machine
4. The first time I ever….
5. A customer service experience (either good or bad)
• Pair up with someone near you and talk about what you wrote –
you will have 3 minutes
• Before you leave, you each choose a favorite from your list
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Why Stories?
Your left brain can hold roughly 7 bits
Stories help create “pictures” and allow us to remember so much more
www.positivedisruption.com
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Story Framework
• It starts with a person (or group), in a situation with a core need
or desire.
• At first she tries to overcome the situation.
• Something keeps her from achieving her desire such as rivals,
circumstances.
• Eventually she sees another possibility of what she could do.
• She takes that action and achieves her desire.
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Let’s take the stories and use them
• Count off into groups of 6
• Bring your handout with you
• Each group will have 4 minutes to briefly share the stories
chosen by each team member
• Choose one story that you will work with because it’s powerful,
funny, or has a good call to action already
• Take 2 minutes to determine your call to action and benefit
statement
• Take 3 minutes to embellish this story with any LOTS (Language
of the Senses – what did you see, hear, smell, etc.)
• Each team will have 2 minutes to tell their story
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How to reach different styles
Fiery Red –
Wants
bottom line,
results
Cool Blue –
Wants
details
STORY
Sunshine Yellow
– wants to be
entertained,
use gestures
Earth Green –
wants to feel
connection
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Q&A
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Our Positive Disruption WOW Factor
• Positive Disruption is led by Kim LaFever, PMP
• Kim is an Insights accredited facilitator
• Kim is change management and PMI-certified with over
20 years of leadership experience in project delivery,
operations, and consulting
• She specializes in working with teams going through
transitions to make it easier, less stressful, and more
productive
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