Stories for Work audiobook cover - The Essential Guide to Business Storytelling

Stories for Work

The Essential Guide to Business Storytelling

Gabrielle Dolan

★ 4.3 / 5(200 ratings)
Start ListeningDownload App
Categories:
Communication SkillsCreativityManagement & Leadership

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

Listen to Stories for Work — Free Audiobook

Loading player...

Key Takeaways from Stories for Work

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from Stories for Work

Mind Map

Stories for Work
The Power of Storytelling+
Four Essential Story Types+
Finding Your Stories+
Structuring the Narrative+
Delivery and Content Principles+
Business Scenarios & Adaptability+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 10
According to the text, why is storytelling a more effective influencing technique than logical arguments?
  • A. It relies entirely on factual data to build credibility and authority.
  • B. It drives the decision-making process by stimulating emotions rather than logic.
  • C. It confuses the neocortex into blindly agreeing with the speaker's message.
  • D. It prevents the release of oxytocin, keeping the listener highly alert and analytical.
Question 2 of 10
In a business context, what is the primary purpose of sharing a 'tragedy' story, such as the example of a manager's wife crashing her bike?
  • A. To seek sympathy from coworkers and build personal friendships.
  • B. To highlight workplace failures and assign blame to specific departments.
  • C. To illustrate important lessons, such as why we shouldn't make assumptions about safety.
  • D. To prove that the speaker has overcome greater obstacles than their colleagues.
Question 3 of 10
Which of the four essential types of business stories focuses on major life changes and is best used to communicate skills like bravery, flexibility, or resilience?
  • A. Transition
  • B. Triumph
  • C. Tension
  • D. Tragedy
Question 4 of 10
What does the author suggest is a key strategy for finding your own authentic stories?
  • A. Focus exclusively on marathon-finishing or promotion-earning days.
  • B. Invent exciting details to make mundane events sound dramatic.
  • C. Embrace everyday, simpler moments rather than always aiming for life's big events.
  • D. Hire a professional writer to review your resume and extract narratives.
Question 5 of 10
According to the book's adaptation of Aristotle's framework, what are the three essential sections of an impressive ending to a story?
  • A. The summary, the call-to-action, and the farewell.
  • B. The bridge, the link, and the pause.
  • C. The climax, the resolution, and the moral.
  • D. The joke, the statistic, and the sign-off.
Question 6 of 10
Why is embracing vulnerability considered a powerful storytelling device in business?
  • A. It makes the speaker appear superior and highly accomplished.
  • B. It prevents accusations of self-importance and helps audiences engage emotionally.
  • C. It distracts the audience from any logical flaws in a presentation.
  • D. It guarantees that the audience will agree with the speaker's proposal.
Question 7 of 10
How does the author characterize the use of humor in business storytelling?
  • A. It is like a chainsaw; it is a powerful tool but can be dangerous if used incorrectly.
  • B. It is essential for every story and should be used as frequently as possible.
  • C. It is strictly forbidden because it undermines the professional nature of the workplace.
  • D. It is only appropriate in 'triumph' stories and should be avoided in all others.
Question 8 of 10
How can a company effectively utilize the 'grapevine' to its advantage?
  • A. By shutting down informal communication networks to maintain strict corporate control.
  • B. By deliberately introducing stories into the network that reflect the company's core values.
  • C. By using it exclusively to spread warnings about impending layoffs or budget cuts.
  • D. By tracking which employees spread rumors and penalizing them publicly.
Question 9 of 10
Why does the author warn against perfecting just one or two stories and becoming complacent?
  • A. Because listeners will eventually memorize them and correct your delivery.
  • B. Because using the same story at every crucial moment becomes tiresome and makes you sound like a broken record.
  • C. Because oral stories naturally degrade over time and must be replaced every month.
  • D. Because business environments change so rapidly that older stories immediately become legally obsolete.
Question 10 of 10
What is a recommended technique for cultivating emotional connections during the 'middle' of your story?
  • A. Overloading the listener with logical facts and figures to prove your expertise.
  • B. Naming your main characters to humanize them and build empathy.
  • C. Speeding up your delivery to maintain a high level of tension.
  • D. Avoiding any specific details so the audience can project their own experiences onto the story.

Stories for Work — Full Chapter Overview

Stories for Work Summary & Overview

In Stories for Work (2017), Gabrielle Dolan explains the effectiveness of a powerful story, and how business professionals can harness this tool to communicate ideas, motivate employees, persuade clients and achieve goals. Dolan walks you through practical advice on coming up with your own stories, and how to apply them to a range of business scenarios.

Who Should Listen to Stories for Work?

  • Anyone who wants to sharpen their communication skills
  • People curious about the power of storytelling
  • Professionals in “people-facing” roles

About the Author: Gabrielle Dolan

Gabrielle Dolan is an author, educator and keynote speaker specializing in authentic leadership and compelling storytelling. She has an MBA in management and leadership, and is the author of five books including the best-selling Ignite: Real Leadership, Real Talk, Real Results (2015).

© Gabrielle Dolan: Stories for Work copyright 2017, John Wiley & Sons Inc. Used by permission of John Wiley & Sons Inc. and shall not be made available to any unauthorized third parties.

🎧
Listen in the AppOffline playback & background play
Get App