Managers As Mentors, 3rd Edition

Putting the Right Spin on the Tale

Even a well-crafted story can fail to achieve its objectives if it isn’t told well. Here are a few techniques and tips for effectively delivering a story.

Dramatize. Don’t be afraid to ham it up a bit. Remember: you’re trying to paint a picture. As you speak, focus on the scene in your mind and try to become part of it. Relive the story as you tell it.

Describe. Use a lot of details in the beginning of the story and then phase them out. Listeners need to hear more details while you’re creating the context. A good rule of thumb is to start by using more details than you think the story needs. Your goal is to draw your listener into the scene. Once you establish the context and you move on to the challenge and ...