Last updated: July 28, 2020
Today I attended the 90-minute Storytelling for Business Master Class hosted by The Story Studio.
Stories are how we make sense of the world. You can use storytelling in a business setting to forge a connection with your colleagues, or to get buy-in.
I just wanted to learn how to convince people to host a 2-hour cocktail party.
About the Storytelling Workshop
The workshop was led by instructors Cyndi Freeman and Gail Thomas.
The cost was $15 (great deal!) and it was hosted at The Kraine Theater as part of the FRIGID Festival.
Here’s the blurb that was provided about the class:
This class covers how and why storytelling is an invaluable tool for communication in business settings. Participants will be guided in applying the principles of compelling storytelling to communicate more effectively on the job. Brief lectures and hands-on exercises will focus on bringing an emotionally resonant arc to brand biographies, personal anecdotes for professional networking, and vision-into-action stories. Whether it is used for talking about important projects, selling a product, selling oneself to a client or hiring manager, crafting stories for grant proposals, or talking to the press, storytelling is a tool that helps people deliver important messages in a way that is clear, compelling and memorable.
The Basics of Storytelling
Why Use Stories:
- Stories are part of our collective consciousness.
- They’re how we motivate people and how movements are born.
- Humans are see narrative. We want a beginning, middle, and end.
Storytelling for Business
- In business, you should tell people right away: What’s the controlling idea? What’s the full message?
- Don’t try to hide the message or let the audience guess.
I’m going to share my raw notes below – I’ve got a lot – or jump straight to The Story Studio’s handout below (or download the PDF here).
My Workshop Notes
Being a visual learner helps me to write things down! These are the notes I took during the workshop on my iPad:
See my eight pages of notes from the workshop when you download my notes PDF here: Notes-StorytellingWorkshop.pdf.
Storytelling Workshop Handouts
These handouts were provided by the instructors from The Story Studio:
- Story Map Worksheet Business: 5 Point Story Structure
- Basics of Storytelling for Business: Tons of information on two pages
(REDACTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE STORY STUDIO)
More Photos
Other Storytelling Workshops in New York City
- The Story Studio
- Museum Hack’s Storytelling Workshops
- Do you have one to add to this list? Please email me.
Conclusion
I’m glad that I went! My buddy Nicolas Marsiglia also joined, along with his cousin and one of his employees.
It was a small, intimate class. I also received excellent feedback on my story from Wendy Mages. My story was about “Benefits You Get When You’re the Host,” part of Chapter 1 for my party hosting handbook (I’m still working it out!).