I’ve been reading a fascinating and well-written corporate “self-help” book, “Lead With A Story” by Paul Smith. For anyone who wants to reach employees, managers and top executives with messages that resonate, inspire and “stick”, I suggest you pick up a copy (see amazon link below). Storytelling is embraced by several Fortune 500 companies because it is a uniquely powerful business practice. Some companies designate an employee as a communicator to gather stories that exemplify good customer service, or that show how thinking outside the box has paid off in profits. They may be internal stories or stories of actions taken by other companies — perhaps an example of how critical thinking and setting specific goals has had a positive impact on a company’s morale and bottom line. Smith successfully makes the argument that we as humans are “wired” to remember stories long after we’ve forgotten the bullet points in a beautiful PowerPoint presentation. Think about it; you may already know of a story that is worth spreading throughout your company!

Lead with a Story: A Guide to Crafting Business Narratives That Captivate, Convince, and Inspire: Paul Smith: 9780814420300: Amazon.com: Books.