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Putting Stories to Work
Shawn Callahan is a master at telling stories, applying stories and coaching others in the art of storytelling. This is a delightful book that is hard to put down.
Gary Klein, world-leading psychologist and author of Intuition at Work
A wonderful book that s both practical and fun to read. As we ve experienced, Shawn s training programs are phenomenal, and now everyone has access to his techniques in Putting Stories to Work.
Gerry Lynch, General Manager, Mars New Zealand
Putting Stories to Work really helps you notice stories and bring them to life in your business in a way that s simple, practical and compelling. This book is full of interesting stories that are so relatable. It s a must-read.
Lisa Mills, International Head of TESCO Academy
The most successful leaders are storytellers. By mastering business storytelling, they achieve extraordinary business results. As a modern-day leader, you know you should develop this skill, but you don t have the time to do this in an ad-hoc way. What you need is a practical, reliable method to follow, one that will allow your business to reap the benefits of storytelling as soon as possible.
In Putting Stories to Work, Shawn Callahan gives you a clear process for mastering business storytelling. He demolishes the thinking that storytelling has no place at work, reminding us that sharing stories is what we all do naturally, every day, and that it s one of the most powerful tools for getting things done. You just need to adapt this natural superpower to boost your business.
Shawn s story mastery process of Discover, Remember, Share and Refresh is based on over two decades' work with high-achieving global companies. In Putting Stories to Work, each step is spelled out in detail, backed up by research, and, needless to say, illustrated by plenty of great stories. Learn how to find and share stories to connect with new people. How to explain why change is needed. How to influence opinions and promote success. And much more. Most importantly, learn how to take the latent skill of storytelling and turn it into a potent business habit. Imagine your colleagues telling the story of how you took the most diverse and opinionated group of experts and had them all working towards the same goal. Or the one about how you persuaded the executive team to change their minds and got a great result for the business. Or the one where everyone got inspired and turned things around. Imagine that your people all know exactly what the company strategy is and how they re making a difference to the organisation. As the successful film executive Peter Guber put it: Storytelling is not show business. It s good business ."
Gary Klein, world-leading psychologist and author of Intuition at Work
A wonderful book that s both practical and fun to read. As we ve experienced, Shawn s training programs are phenomenal, and now everyone has access to his techniques in Putting Stories to Work.
Gerry Lynch, General Manager, Mars New Zealand
Putting Stories to Work really helps you notice stories and bring them to life in your business in a way that s simple, practical and compelling. This book is full of interesting stories that are so relatable. It s a must-read.
Lisa Mills, International Head of TESCO Academy
The most successful leaders are storytellers. By mastering business storytelling, they achieve extraordinary business results. As a modern-day leader, you know you should develop this skill, but you don t have the time to do this in an ad-hoc way. What you need is a practical, reliable method to follow, one that will allow your business to reap the benefits of storytelling as soon as possible.
In Putting Stories to Work, Shawn Callahan gives you a clear process for mastering business storytelling. He demolishes the thinking that storytelling has no place at work, reminding us that sharing stories is what we all do naturally, every day, and that it s one of the most powerful tools for getting things done. You just need to adapt this natural superpower to boost your business.
Shawn s story mastery process of Discover, Remember, Share and Refresh is based on over two decades' work with high-achieving global companies. In Putting Stories to Work, each step is spelled out in detail, backed up by research, and, needless to say, illustrated by plenty of great stories. Learn how to find and share stories to connect with new people. How to explain why change is needed. How to influence opinions and promote success. And much more. Most importantly, learn how to take the latent skill of storytelling and turn it into a potent business habit. Imagine your colleagues telling the story of how you took the most diverse and opinionated group of experts and had them all working towards the same goal. Or the one about how you persuaded the executive team to change their minds and got a great result for the business. Or the one where everyone got inspired and turned things around. Imagine that your people all know exactly what the company strategy is and how they re making a difference to the organisation. As the successful film executive Peter Guber put it: Storytelling is not show business. It s good business ."
290 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 4, 2020
Many of the ‘story-telling’ books I’ve picked up over the years I find either too ‘not me’ (i.e I would require I personality transplant or training at drama school) or not very street-wise (meaning, not with practical tips for key work situations), honing mostly on the narrative of the story. Callahan’s book is a good read, nicely interwoven with stories, quotes and external references from good journals and researchers. One complaint is that there are no bullet points summarising each chapter - I get it, it’s about story telling not PowerPoint, but I still think it’s worth it. Lots of great pointers here.
July 7, 2022
It was a good read. At a friend's house on the Fourth of July, we somehow got into a discussion about oral storytelling. This book came up. My friends had read it, finding it helpful to them as leaders, they suggested I read it. They also discussed how they had used storytelling to improve their effectiveness at work. Their story impressed me, so I said, "Maybe I should read that book." It was polite conversation, I would probably have forgotten all about it. At the end of the visit, my friend said, "Let me loan you that book." I was like, "Darn it, now I have to read it." So, I read it.
The book is well written and the author gives practical advice along with strong examples. Sometimes, after reading how-to-books, I'm left wondering, okay, so what's next. That didn't happen here. This book will guide you to build a story telling habit.
I used it yesterday with a friend and at the start of this review. It feels different. But I like it. All the way through the book, I asked myself, is he helping people to use stories to manipulate others? It seems to me, the strategy can easily be used that way. Fortunately, in the last chapter, The Ethics of Business Storytelling, he discusses the issue. Still, I'm guessing, I'll really need to pay more attention to how authentic those corporate stories are when I hear them.
Overall, the book is easy to read, straight forward, well written and helpful.
The book is well written and the author gives practical advice along with strong examples. Sometimes, after reading how-to-books, I'm left wondering, okay, so what's next. That didn't happen here. This book will guide you to build a story telling habit.
I used it yesterday with a friend and at the start of this review. It feels different. But I like it. All the way through the book, I asked myself, is he helping people to use stories to manipulate others? It seems to me, the strategy can easily be used that way. Fortunately, in the last chapter, The Ethics of Business Storytelling, he discusses the issue. Still, I'm guessing, I'll really need to pay more attention to how authentic those corporate stories are when I hear them.
Overall, the book is easy to read, straight forward, well written and helpful.
December 22, 2016
One of the best books (actually, THE best book) I have read about the power of stories - and of being human - in an organisational context.
October 16, 2022
In the four years I have known Shawn, I've become heavily influenced by his well researched and tested business storytelling tips and strategies. It was such a natural fit for an audio version - intonation and expression make such a difference to your audience response. Highly recommended for those leaders for whom the 'Powerpoint presentation' just isn't getting the cut-through or creating a memorable message - anecdotally speaking ;>)
March 1, 2024
Great work read for comms pros and executives who want to tell better stories. The book goes through why stories matter, what a story is, what makes business stories different (and stand out) and then provides a breakdown on how to find stories, catalogue and curate them, remember them and tell them well. The book also covers the ethical use of corporate storytelling. It’s a reference I will go back to.
November 9, 2018
Great book. Gives step by step guidance on how to collect short stories, remember them and use them for effective communication in meetings and discussions
March 1, 2019
Struggled with the Australian accent
April 3, 2019
Unbelievably boring for a book on storytelling.
April 11, 2019
Very useful. A little slow in the beginning but I could understand the author establishing the base. The second half is packed full of useful tips and tricks to use.
May 20, 2021
Smug, long-winded attempt to convert common sense into science. Imagine a TED Talk about TED Talks. Now make it longer.
January 6, 2022
Very practical and insightful
Shawn has done a great job explaining the power and relevance of storytelling in business. I highly recommend this book.
Shawn has done a great job explaining the power and relevance of storytelling in business. I highly recommend this book.
December 17, 2022
Fantastic book about storytelling and storytelling at work. Full of good examples and useful tips.
January 26, 2024
Brilliant articulation with lot of examples
Thanks Shawan for the beautiful book
Thanks Shawan for the beautiful book
November 20, 2016
One of the themes in business literature over the past couple of years has been storytelling. Science recently found that we make every decision for emotional reasons. Stories work in business because they get the listener emotionally involved and ready to take action. Callahan's comprehensive book explains why stories matter and then shows you how to find and use stories in business. It's a must-read for today's leader.
June 12, 2016
Very good business book. It is easy to understand and takes the reader step by step thru business.
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September 2, 2016Location: PTI IRC
Accession No: DL028439
Accession No: DL028439
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews