ATD's Handbook for Training and Talent Development

CHAPTER 18

Using Story Structure to Influence

Nancy Duarte and Jeff Davenport

Human beings are “storytelling animals” (Gottschall 2012). Our brains are wired for stories. They are how we process the world around us, giving us a lens through which we interpret almost all of life. According to Statista, “Consumers around the world spend an average of 463 minutes or over 7.5 hours per day with media. American consumers tend to average more time than most” (Watson 2020). Our thoughts, emotions, and actions can all be powerfully altered by stories. And yet, too often, training experiences are created without story in mind.

IN THIS CHAPTER:

  Define ...