Stories for Work: The Essential Guide to Business Storytelling

Learn the science and master the art of telling a great story

Stories for Work walks you through the science of storytelling, revealing the secrets behind great storytellers and showing you how to master the art of storytelling in business. Stories hold a unique place in our psyche, and the right story at the right time can be a game-changer in business; whether tragedy, triumph, tension or transition, a good story can captivate the listener and help you achieve your goals. In this book, author Gabrielle Dolan draws from a decade of training business leaders in storytelling to show you what works, why it works, when it works best and what never works. You'll learn how to create your own stories — authentically yours, crafted to attain your goal — and develop an instinct for sharing when the time is right. In-depth case studies feature real-world people in real-world businesses, showing how storytelling has changed the way they work, motivate and lead — providing clear examples of the power of this enormously effective skill.

Storytelling gives you an edge. Whether you're after a promotion, a difficult client, a big sale or leading through transition, a great story can help you smooth the road and seal the deal. This book is your personal coach for masterful storytelling, with expert guidance and lessons learned from real-world business leaders.

• Learn why storytelling grabs attention and helps your message get through
• Master the four types of stories used in business settings
• Infuse your stories with the personal to highlight your vision and values
• Craft a selection of stories to pull out at pivotal business moments

The oral tradition has ancient roots that unite all humans, and despite our myriad modern distractions, we still respond to a well-told story. Stories for Work helps you put this dynamic to work for you in any business scenario.

About the Author

Gabrielle Dolan is a global thought leader on authentic leadership and business storytelling. She’s worked with thousands of high-profile leaders from around the world, helping them to become better leaders and communicators using the art of business storytelling. Gabrielle is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, and works with some of Australia’s top 50 ASX companies, including National Australia Bank, Australia Post, Telstra and ANZ, and multinationals such as Accenture, Bupa, Ericsson and International Committee Red Cross.

In the past, Gabrielle has held various senior leadership roles at National Australia Bank in change management and organisational change. She also co-founded One Thousand & One, one of Australia’s leading storytelling companies, before launching her own practice in 2013.

In 2015 Gabrielle became an Australian and New Zealand Partner of Thought Leaders Global, where she works with organisations to help them gain a competitive edge through Thought Leadership. In the same year, she was also nominated for Telstra’s Business Woman of the Year award, one of the most prestigious business awards in the Asia–Pacific region.

She is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education in both the Art and Practice of Leadership Development and Women and Power: Leadership in a New World. Her other academic qualifications include a master’s degree in management and leadership from Swinburne University and an associate diploma in education and training from the University of Melbourne.

Gabrielle is also the bestselling author of Ignite: Real Leadership, Real Talk, Real Results, which was published in 2015 and reached the top 5 on Australia’s bestselling business books. Her other published books include Storytelling for Job Interviews, published in 2016, and Hooked: How Leaders Connect, Engage and Inspire with Storytelling, published in 2013. Her latest book, Stories for Work: The Essential Guide to Business Storytelling is due to be published by Wiley in March, 2017.

She is also passionate about changing the way we communicate in business and is the founder of the Jargon Free Fridays global revolution #jargonfreefridays (jargonfreefridays.com).

When she is not writing or working, she can be found wandering in her vegetable garden at her 25-acre rural property on the southern coast of New South Wales. She believes the world would be a better place if there were more manure in gardens and less in business.