Essential Read
The moment you take control of your stories, you take control of your business and your life. That’s according to author and professional storyteller, Kindra Hall. In her new book, Stories That Stick, she shares insights on how to make your story your greatest business tool. Kindra is a firm believer that storytelling can do everything—from helping leaders better communicate to motivating sales teams and winning customers away from competitors.
In Stories That Stick, Kindra Hall, professional storyteller and speaker, reveals the four unique stories you can use to differentiate, captivate, and elevate:
the Value Story, to convince customers they need what you provide;
the Founder Story, to persuade investors and customers your organization is worth the investment;
the Purpose Story, to align and inspire your employees and internal customers; and
the Customer Story, to allow those who use your product or service to share their authentic experiences with others.
Telling these stories well is a simple, accessible skill anyone can develop. With case studies, company profiles, and anecdotes backed with original research, Kindra presents storytelling as the underutilized talent that separates the good from the best in business. She offers specific, actionable steps readers can take to find, craft, and leverage the stories they already have and simply aren’t telling. Every person, every business, has at least four stories at their disposal. Will you tell yours?
Author quotes
Stories are my life. They are my work, my currency, the way I see the world. I told my first story when I was eleven years old. And ever since that day, stories have followed me, sought me. and now I spend my days speaking about using stories strategically and teaching others to tell theirs.
Storytellers close the gap. Become one and you will close the distance between what you have and what you want. You shrink the space between where you are and where you want to be in business and in life.
Remember that when it comes to storytelling in business, you’re not reinventing the wheel; you’re dipping into the current of story that runs through our heads and our lives all the time. And that’s a current worth dipping into - in business and beyond.
About the author
Kindra Hall is President and Chief Storytelling Officer at Steller Collective, a consulting firm focused on the strategic application of storytelling to today’s communication challenges. Kindra is one of the most sought after keynote speakers trusted by global brands to deliver presentations and trainings that inspire teams and individuals to better communicate the value of their company, their products and their individuality through strategic storytelling. What began as a chance encounter at age 13 with a storytelling cassette tape grew into a passion for not only telling stories, but a mastery for teaching others the methods and science of storytelling so they can better tell their own. She was a National Champion storyteller (yes, they have those), member of the Board of Directors of the National Storytelling Network and has her master’s degree in communications where she conducted original research studying the role of storytelling in defining and revealing organizational culture.
Kindra is a former Director of Marketing and VP of Sales. Today, Kindra’s work can be seen at Inc.com, Entrepreneur.com and as a contributing editor for SUCCESS Magazine. Kindra’s message spans all industries and her clients include Facebook, Hilton Hotels, Tyson Foods, Target, Berkshire Hathaway and the Harvard Medical School. Her much anticipated book will be released by Harper Leadership in the fall of 2019. Regardless of the industry, Kindra has become a conference favorite for her clients. The blend of inspiration and education in her keynotes mean that audiences leave feeling excited and equipped to finally put their stories to work in a tangible way. Kindra lives in Manhattan with her husband, young son and daughter. When she is not traveling around the world speaking, Kindra can usually be found at spin class or in Central Park with her family.
Why LoA loves it….
At Lionesses of Africa, we are passionate believers in the power of storytelling to connect our businesses, brands, and ethos to our customers. It’s something we do instrinsically every day, in fact, it’s part of our DNA at Lionesses of Africa. So coming across Kindra Hall’s new book this week, Stories That Stick, really resonated with us on so many levels. We constantly encourage the women entrepreneurs in our network to share their stories in order to make a personal connection with their potential customers in the market place, using those stories to break through the noise. Storytelling is a powerful device that can be used by all women entrepreneurs out there who want to make their businesses and brands genuinely reach out to potential customers and win hearts and minds in the process. Kindra’s new book is a must-read for those who need a little help and guidance to harness the power of storytelling in their daily business lives. — Melanie Hawken, founder and ceo of Lionesses of Africa