Better Storytelling: Get What You Want @Work & @Home - with Dr. Todd Dewett

Productivity Gladiator

Dr. Todd Dewett joins Brian to dive into story telling at work and at home. They uncovered tips and tactics on how to tell better stories, when to leverage the power of a story, and where stories are most effective. These hacks will help you level up your story telling game, so you’ll shine even brighter at work, and in your personal life.

See the full details and links on the episode's page.

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Links to References In This Episode

LinkedIn Learning Course “Storytelling for Leaders” by Dr Todd Dewett

Chris Rock excerpt Todd references: From Bigger & Blacker, segment on relationships

Book: The Little Black Book of Leadership: Essential Advice for New Managers by Todd Dewett PhD

Book: Show Your Ink: Stories About Leadership and Life by Todd Dewett PhD

Book: Dancing with Monsters: A Tale About Leadership, Successss, and Overcoming Fears

by Todd Dewett PhD

Book: The Ten Delusions: And How To Survive Them Effectively by Todd Dewett

EPISODE DIGEST

Storytelling is a powerful tool for connecting with people and getting your message across. In this episode of Productivity Gladiator, Brian Nelson-Palmer has an in-depth discussion with communication expert Dr. Todd Dewett about how to become a master storyteller.

THE CORE ELEMENTS OF STORYTELLING

Todd outlines the basic structure that most good stories follow:

Act 1 introduces the characters and the situation they are in. Draw the audience in with an interesting predicament.

Act 2 escalates events and creates intrigue. Take the audience on an emotional journey.

Act 3 provides resolution and wraps up the story. Provide a satisfactory conclusion.

A compelling storyteller uses vivid details, varies their tone and pacing, and incorporates relatable characters and scenarios that tap into the audience's shared experiences. This emotional component takes the story beyond just relaying logical information.

WHEN TO USE STORIES VS. QUICK ANSWERS

Stories shine when explaining the "why" behind something, rather than direct responses to simple questions. In professional settings with time limitations, opt for shorter anecdotes rather than long epics. Save the drawn out stories for rare occasions when you really want to drive home a point.

Dr. Dewett notes "Stories are special and should not be used all the time. It's just like your favorite food. If you eat it all the time, you become redundant and lose some love for it." Keep people engaged by strategically picking your storytelling moments.

STORIES IN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Overusing stories with friends and partners can grow old quickly. Dr. Dewett suggests prompting loved ones for stories to give them a chance to share. This provides an opportunity to learn new things about each other, even after years together. Share new experiences to avoid repeating tired tales they've heard multiple times before.

EXAMPLES BRING THE PRINCIPLES TO LIFE

Throughout the interview, Dr. Dewett illustrates effective storytelling through engaging examples from his own career as a professional speaker. He takes the audience on a journey, using vocal inflection, passion, and practical takeaways people can relate to.

His stories showcase how following a narrative structure and making it personally resonate grabs attention even when delivering difficult messages. Dr. Dewett notes that reading the room and adjusting your delivery based on reactions is also crucial for successful storytelling.

KEY QUOTES

"Stories are the key to getting what you want in life because it helps people get on board. They relate to stories."

"Stories are special and should not be used all the time. It's just like your favorite food. If you eat it all the time, you become redundant and lose some love for it."

"If you're going to tell them the why, it should be a story."

Today’s Guest

Dr. Todd Dewett
Master StoryTeller, Speaker, Author

Dr. Todd Dewett is one of the world’s most watched leadership personalities: an authenticity expert, best-selling online course creator, a TEDx speaker, and an Inc. Magazine Top 100 leadership speaker. He has been quoted widely, including the New York Times, BusinessWeek, and TIME.

After beginning his career with Andersen Consulting and Ernst & Young he completed his PhD in Organizational Behavior at Texas A&M University and enjoyed a career as an awardwinning professor and scholar. Todd has delivered over 1,000 speeches and created a body of educational work enjoyed by over 30,000,000 professionals around the globe. His recent clients include Microsoft, ExxonMobil, Pepsi, Boeing, Google, Caterpillar, IBM, Zoom, and hundreds more.

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/drdewett

Instagram: instagram.com/drdewett

Website: drdewett.com

YouTube: youtube.com/c/DrToddDewett

Facebook: facebook.com/DrToddDewett