Consulting and Storytelling The consulting relationship is influenced by trust and truth Learning and change consultants unearth an organization’s story Clients must engage in the storytelling process – a process we can facilitate Building a relationship is an essential step – story sharing helps! I talk about storytelling a lot now because of all the research I did on the topic while writing my book called, Storytraining: Selecting and shaping stories that work, published by ATD. While the book focuses on facilitation, I use storytelling in several ways and one of those ways is throughout the consulting relationship.

Your Story Their Story Story Sharing Your stories help listeners CONNECT to you Once listeners feel connected, they are more likely to SHARE their stories Sharing stories may lead to trust and rapport, but most of all, ANSWERS Their Story

Selecting and Shaping Stories CONNECT CHANGE RELEVANCE ENTERTAIN

Story Spine Something happens Momentum Consequential events Point Once upon a time . . . Something happens Momentum Consequential events Point Every day . . . But, one day . . . Because of that . . . Because of that . . . Until, finally . . . And, ever since then . . .