Business Storytelling – the number 1 question

July 19, 2023

The number 1 question I get asked is, ‘Do all my stories have to be about business?’

Is that the gold standard in Business Storytelling?

YawnπŸ₯±. Sorry, I zoned out there.

Looking for stories just from business is very limiting. And frankly often (there’s no polite way of saying this) boring for your audience.

Sadly, the term β€˜business storytelling’ creates the false assumption that your stories must be about business. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Successful storytellers occasionally use work stories, but they know 𝐭𝐑𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 π₯𝐒𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐧 𝐭𝐑𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚π₯.

Here’s an example:
𝑀𝑦 𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑑𝑙𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑣𝑒-π‘¦π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿ-π‘œπ‘™π‘‘ 𝑛𝑖𝑒𝑐𝑒 π‘€π‘Žπ‘¦π‘Ž π‘€π‘Žπ‘™π‘˜π‘’π‘‘ π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ β„Žπ‘œπ‘’π‘ π‘’ π‘¦π‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦, β„Žπ‘œπ‘™π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Ž π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘π‘’ π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘™π‘’ 𝑖𝑛 π‘’π‘Žπ‘β„Ž β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘. 𝐼 π‘‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘’π‘”β„Žπ‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘  π‘€π‘œπ‘’π‘™π‘‘ 𝑏𝑒 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘“π‘’π‘π‘‘ π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œ π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘™π‘’ π‘šπ‘œπ‘‘π‘’π‘™ π‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘”!

𝐼 π‘Žπ‘ π‘˜π‘’π‘‘ β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ, β€˜π‘€π‘Žπ‘¦π‘Ž, π‘π‘Žπ‘› 𝐼 π‘π‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘’ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’ π‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘™π‘’?’ π‘†β„Žπ‘’ π‘™π‘œπ‘œπ‘˜π‘’π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘šπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘–π‘šπ‘šπ‘’π‘‘π‘–π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘™π‘¦ 𝑏𝑖𝑑 π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘™π‘’ 𝑖𝑛 β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’π‘› 𝑗𝑒𝑠𝑑 π‘Žπ‘  π‘žπ‘’π‘–π‘π‘˜π‘™π‘¦ π‘ β„Žπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œπ‘œπ‘˜ π‘Ž 𝑏𝑖𝑑𝑒 π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘™π‘’ 𝑖𝑛 β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑑 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘. 𝐼 π‘€π‘Žπ‘  π‘ β„Žπ‘œπ‘π‘˜π‘’π‘‘. 𝐡𝑒𝑑 π‘π‘’π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’ 𝐼 π‘π‘œπ‘’π‘™π‘‘ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘π‘‘ π‘ β„Žπ‘’ β„Žπ‘’π‘™π‘‘ π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘™π‘’ 𝑖𝑛 β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑑 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘ π‘Žπ‘¦π‘–π‘›π‘”, β€˜π»π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘¦, π‘‘π‘Žπ‘˜π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘  π‘œπ‘›π‘’ –𝑖𝑑’𝑠 π‘ π‘€π‘’π‘’π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿβ€™.

πΌβ€™π‘š π‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘  π‘π‘’π‘π‘Žπ‘’π‘ π‘’ π‘ π‘œ π‘œπ‘“π‘‘π‘’π‘› 𝑀𝑒 π‘—π‘’π‘šπ‘ π‘‘π‘œ π‘π‘œπ‘›π‘π‘™π‘’π‘ π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘ . πΌπ‘šπ‘Žπ‘”π‘–π‘›π‘’ 𝑖𝑓 π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’π‘  𝑀𝑒 π‘‘π‘œπ‘œπ‘˜ π‘Ž 𝑠𝑑𝑒𝑝 π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘˜ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘π‘Žπ‘’π‘ π‘’π‘‘. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘‘π‘–π‘“π‘“π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘›π‘π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘π‘œπ‘’π‘™π‘‘ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘’ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘π‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ .

Storyteller: Bernadette Iskander
Source: Story Mastery: How Leaders Supercharge results with Business Storytelling

The minute you use stories from outside business, but link them to a business message, you will have your audience at hello.

They will remember and retell your stories.

Do you want to hit this gold standard consistently? I can help – check out my Business Storytelling Masterclasses for more.

Story Mastery

Discover stories from leaders like you, who have applied these simple steps and achieved career-defining business results. Storytelling is not a natural gift, but a skill you can learn.

Buy Now Get Free Sample
Business storytelling techniques
, 
Business Storytelling training

Recent Posts

Featured image for β€œDo you do this crazy thing when you get obsessed?”
Mar. 06, 2025

Do you do this crazy thing when you get obsessed?

Featured image for β€œAre You Boring Your Audience? 5 Proven Ways to Command Attention When You Speak”
Mar. 04, 2025

Are You Boring Your Audience? 5 Proven Ways to Command Attention When You Speak

Feb. 25, 2025

Yes I’m speaking at PSA Convention 2025!

Featured image for β€œThe One Thing We Can All Agree Onβ€”100%”
Feb. 18, 2025

The One Thing We Can All Agree Onβ€”100%

Feb. 10, 2025

Your Storytelling Superpower: Rediscover the Magic of Play

Featured image for β€œI Have a Valentine’s Day Gift for You”
Feb. 05, 2025

I Have a Valentine’s Day Gift for You

Categories

Go Back