The 7 Secrets of Neuron Leadership

Chapter 15The Neuron 3‐Act Play

It is an ancient need to be told stories. But the story needs a great storyteller.

—ALAN RICKMAN

Aristotle taught us via his ancient persuasion model that to persuade we must also be an effective communicator so we can impart a clear vision and our “commander's intent.” One of the most effective ways to do this is by using compelling and engaging stories because “facts tell and stories sell,” and leaders are frequently tasked with “selling” their vision and themselves to their teams.

We learned about the Hero's Journey in the Dorothy's Journey chapter. We'll now examine some elements of this three‐part (Figure 15.1) journey structure from a neuroscience‐based perspective in relation to how it aligns with another effective and age‐old format called the three‐act play. This approach, when combined with neuroscience‐based messaging, creates the Neuron 3‐Act Play™, which has been proven successful across thousands of leadership situations for dozens of firms large and small.

Figure 15.1 It's as Easy as 1, 2, 3

Source: Norbert Buchholz, Dreamstime.com.

We've been telling stories since the dawn of time. When told well, stories usually follow the three‐act play format often employed in the plays of Shakespeare, the poetry of Aristotle, the fables of Aesop, and movies directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Dr. Paul Zak conducted a study during which his team ...